VENTURA PONS

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBB. 

Original title:  Amic/Amat

Spain, 1999.  Els Films de la Rambla, Televisión Española, Canal+ España, Televisió de Catalunya, Generalitat de Catalunya – Departament de Cultura.  Screenplay by Josep Maria Benet i Jornet, based on his play Testament. Cinematography by Jesus Escosa.  Produced by Ventura Pons.  Music by Carles Cases.  Production Design by Bel lo Torras.  Costume Design by Amparo Moreno.  Film Editing by Pere Abadal.  Toronto International Film Festival 1999.  

Ventura Pons once again presents an assortment of characters and gives them the chance to find their own happiness despite the dire circumstances they subject themselves to. A professor is in love with his student, the student hustles for money, the student gets his girlfriend pregnant, the girlfriend’s father is a good friend of the professor and is now having relationship troubles of his own with his wife. Complicated story, but in Pons’ hands it’s a constant celebration of how good it is to be a part of a community.