Crossing Borders (2006)

hyped garbage

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Carlos Iglesias's first big-screen full-length movie as filmmaker, "Un Franco, Catorce Pesetas" (Crossing Borders, 2006), was a hit among viewers . Marcos (Javier Gutierrez) and Martin (Carlos Iglesias) are two good workers in the Spain of the 60's , but without job . In Spain there's no job , there's no cash , and there's no option for the poor people but to emigrate to a foreign country and attempting to encounter work . The two friends say goodbye their families and go abroad . There takes place the problems to adapt into Switzerland ; but later on , they discover a new and agreeable life . This interesting film is full of humor , drama , touching scenes and good feeling . It is a simple , dramatic and humorous portrait of a time when the Spanish had to go other countries in order to encounter a work . Carlos Iglesias's first big-screen full-length movie as director, "Un Franco, Catorce Pesetas", was a success among spectators, as well as a hit smash in the various film festivals it took part in . The movie plot about the life of Spanish immigrants in Switzerland in the late 1960s is based on his parents' as well as his own experience as an immigrant and adequately showing us how was the life of that time . Actors are frankly magnificent with a first-rate acting for whole cast . Sensational Carlos Iglesias along with the wife played Nieve De Medina and Isabel Blanco as Hanna , among others . Moving and stirring musical score by Mario De Benito . Colorful cinematography by Tote Trenas who shows splendidly the ambient by that time . The story has wide relation with Ispansi!" (literally 'Spaniards!' in Russian, 2010) , his second movie as director that deals with children in Russia and there repeat most actors as Nieve de Medina , Isabel Blanco , Eloísa Vargas , Isabelle Stoffel and of course Carlos Iglesias . The motion picture was very well directed by Carlos Iglesias . He's a good actor and filmmaker . Having attended Madrid's Royal School for Dramatic Art, in the 1980s Carlos Iglesias played mainly in both classic and contemporary theatrical plays . Among others, in 1982 he played a part in Carlo Goldoni's "Arlequín, Servidor dos Amos", under Ángel Gutiérrez's direction and, with the same director, in Chejov's "Polinka". He worked in 1983 under director Balaguer in Lauro Olmo's play "Pablo Iglesias"; in Valle-Inclán's "Los Cuernos de Don Friolera" ; in 1987 in Federico García Lorca's "El Público" ; in 1990-91 in Jean Genet's "Ella",; and in 1992 in Valle-Inclán's "Las galas del Difunto", , among many other theater venues .From the early 90s onwards, Carlos Iglesias opted mainly for television shows of all different kinds: drama productions (in José Ramón Larraz's "Goya"; in Mario Camus's "La Forja De Un Rebelde"; in Luis García Berlanga's "Blasco Ibáñez"); TV series (in Vicente Escrivá's "Éste es mi barrio" and "Manos a Obra"; also in "Siete Vidas" and "Cuéntame Cómo Pasó" ; and as main actor in various TV shows, such as "Esta Noche Cruzamos el Mississippi". For the big screen, he was cast for Pedro Costa's movie "El Caso Almería" (1983); for Jaime Camino's "Dragón Rapide" (1986); or Pedro Pinzola's "Siempre Felices" (1991). Recently, he has acted as Sancho Panza in Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón's "El Caballero don Quijote" (2002) and in José Luis Garci's "Ninette" (2005), alongside Elsa Pataky. Rating ¨Un Franco 14 Pesetas¨ : 7'5 , worthwhile watching , essential and indispensable seeing for Spanish cinema buffs .

A must seen movie! If your parents are emigrants or you are the child of emigrants (as in my case) you will be pleased to see your childhood again. In the beginning very funny the film changes to be more and more sad and complex. But this is no problem, it is our life that is like that. If you know Sppain and Switzerland you will be pleased to watch the movie, because it is really very close to reality. Carlos Iglesias I didn't know before I have seen this movie but I am forward to seeing more of his work. I have seen the movie without knowing at all what it would be about and that was absolutely good for me, because I was immediately taken away by the story. I live in Switzerland and my mom's from Spain, so I was kind of privileged to see the movie because I know both countries very well. But I think this is not necessary for every spectator. It is just a very good, very sensitive but also funny movie. Enjoy it!

The theme is so subtly developed, one doesn't realize it's really about the emigrant experience until almost the end. For most of the film, it's 'just' a story, and a great one. Everything is cleverly subtle. For example, the protagonist doesn't come from misery and extreme poverty, nor is he poorly educated (all characteristics of the stereotypical emigrant). He's not fleeing from political oppression (at least overtly). He's just trying to get ahead.It's rare to see emigration from the point of view of the emigrant. This film could be required viewing in the U.S. before making disparaging remarks about immigrants.It is also always a pleasure to see an entire film where adolescent angst plays no part.

It was my first Spanish movie and I had no idea what to expect, but I'm so glad I chose it in the end, I found it so much more interesting and entertaining than the other movies i'm used to. I am definitely going to see if I can find some more of Carlos Iglesias - I absolutely loved him.A wonderful movie, beautifully filmed, with light yet very effective humour. The actors are simply perfect, the story flows at the right pace, and you enjoy the movie from beginning to end. Offers a great contrast between the lives of the Spanish and the swiss in the 1960's. A Spanish must-see.