Ander (2009) directed by Roberto Castón

[reviews_and_ramblings]

A love story between a Basque farmer and a Peruvian immigrant.

Director: Roberto Castón

Writer: Roberto Castón

Release Date: 30 January 2009 (Bilbao International Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Film Festival, Spain)
12 July 2009 (Outfest Film Festival, USA)

Genres: Drama

Storyline: The valley of Arratia in August 1999. Ander, a farmer well into his forties, lives with his sister Arantxa and his old mother in a remote part of rural Basque country. His is a monotonous life filled with nothing but farm work and a job at the local bicycle factory. It won't be long before Arantxa gets married and leaves home and then Ander will be left to look after their stubborn mother on his own. Then one day Ander has an accident and breaks his leg. His limb will be in a plaster cast for two months. Against his mother's wishes, the family decides to employ a Peruvian immigrant, José, in order to help out. The arrival of the new farm hand has an influence on interpersonal relationships within the family. The old woman, who barely speaks any Spanish, refuses to communicate with José, but Arantxa and Ander soon get to know José quite well. The two men in particular become firm friends... Written by Roberto Caston

Awards: 2009 C.I.C.A.E. Award in the Panorama category to Roberto Castón, Berlin International Film Festival
2009 Violette d'Or to Roberto Castón, Toulouse Cinespaña

@IMDb
@Netflix

 















Cast (in alphabetical order)
Eriz Alberdi ... Iñaki
Joxean Bengoetxea ... Ander
Christian Esquivel ... Jose
Jose Kruz Gurrutxaga ... Panadero
Juancho Kerejeta ... Recepcionista
Unax Martín ... Niño
Pedro Otaegi ... Evaristo
Pako Revueltas ... Peio
Mamen Rivera ... Reme
Pilar Rodríguez ... Madre
Leire Ucha ... Arantxa

     
Jose & Ander

Comments

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Ander was an unexpected romance, a nice surprise that was even better because I was ready to like it anyway. There are some movie that, from the beginning, have an heavy sad hood above them and nothing or no one can stop the drama that is leading the spectator towards the ending, absolutely not happily ever after ending. But these movies are good, for the setting, the plot, the actors, and so the spectator thinks, well, it's worth the viewing. That is exactly what I was thinking approaching Ander, a movie that was showcased not only in the most important LGBT movie festival all over the world, but also in "serious" movie festival like Berlin. I was thinking this is a movie you have to see despite the drama. And instead this is absolutely not a sad movie. All right, it's not light and happy, but there is a love story, it's slow and sincere and it has an happily ever after, a logic and believable happily ever after. And so why this movie hasn't had the word of mouth that other movies had? Probably because the main character are not exactly pretty (even if Jose...), probably since the only sex scene was good, but a bit awkard, and well, not romantic and the romance between the two main characters is displayed with small signs that are not physical. But friends this is a gay romance with an happily ever after! how many chances you have to see one?

[lucifuge-5.livejournal.com]

AFAIK, the movie hasn't premiered where I live (Southeastern US). That said, I've got a feeling that it might do so for the LGTB film festival (in late April). It sounds like an interesting movie.

Probably because the main character are not exactly pretty (even if Jose...)
Maybe? I know that there 'pretty boy' movies are a dime a dozen in gay cinema, but I'm in the minority since I prefer a good plot and chemistry than seeing two guys who could be models rolling in bed.

After all, one of my fave movies is "Big Eden" and at least one half of the M/M couple (Arye Gross) isn't conventionally handsome.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Ander is not as light as Big Eden was but that is a good comparison, I think Big Eden is a wonderful romance, but unfortunately it's not so known as it would be worth to be.

[francy-m79.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed Ander very much. Unfortunately I watched the movie in the original version without subs, so I didn't get everything, despite still being able to follow.

The best thing for me is that it felt like a real story about real people in the real world, for once.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Ouch, original version? so a mix of Spanish and Basque, I can understand why you didn't catch everything, Spanish for an Italian is a catch and go, but Basque? No way!

[francy-m79.livejournal.com]

Oh, no...luckily, the Basque parts were subtitled, but not the Spanish ones (it was evidently a version made for non-Basque speaking Spanish people)! Otherwise it would have been really impossible! :p

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Slightly better then ;-) I think it will be soon available in Italy with Italian subtitles, in July it was shown in Milan (and it won also an award if I remember well).

[francy-m79.livejournal.com]

That's great!! Looking forward to it! :)