Crossing Borders

March. 19,2006      
Rating:
7
Trailer Synopsis Cast

In 1960, Martín and Marcos are forced by their difficult personal circumstances to travel to Switzerland in search of work, leaving their families in the Madrid of Franco's Spain. But they undertake more than a simple journey; they begin the road to a new life.

Carlos Iglesias as  Martín
Javier Gutiérrez as  Marcos
Nieve de Medina as  Pilar
Isabel Blanco as  Hannah
Aldo Sebastianelli as  Tonino
Ángela del Salto as  Mari Carmen
Iñaki Guevara as  Alberto
Isabelle Stoffel as  Erika
Miguel de Lira as  Gallego

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Reviews

Hellen
2006/03/19

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

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Konterr
2006/03/20

Brilliant and touching

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CrawlerChunky
2006/03/21

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

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Sarita Rafferty
2006/03/22

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

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Ian Hinton
2006/03/23

A well balanced film, reflecting the reality of emigration for Spaniards. A light drama with touches of intelligent humour. A joy to watch, learn and have an occasional laugh. As a brit living in Spain for many years, it's wonderful to see how Spanish movies have evolved so well from the old "españoladas" (the local derogatory label for Spanish slapstick films), to intelligent and excellent quality jobs like this one. This was my second "adventure" with Carlos Iglesias, after watching his extremely humanistic "Ispansi" (Spanish refugees in Russia during the Spanish Civil War). I'm now looking forward to watching his latest production "¿Cómo está el Franco?".

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Imdbidia
2006/03/24

Crossing Borders... is A Spanish-Switzerland comedy released in 2006 that tells the story of two couples of Spanish immigrants in Switzerland in the 1950s based in the autobiographical experience of the actor and director Carlos Iglesias.This is a very sweet, funny, honest and intimate film about the lives of those Spaniards who migrated to Switzerland and other European countries in the 1950s and 1960s. It is faithful to real events, and shows the issues that affected those people when leaving their country, the pros and cons of being an Spanish emigrant, and of the country of origin and the country of reception. Especially good is the depiction of the feelings of alienation, loneliness, cultural and emotional isolation, distrust by the locals, but also how hard was going back home for those who decided to return and resettle.All the cast is good in their performances, especially Nieves de Medina as Pilar and Isabel Blanco as Hanna.The movie is unpretentious, talks about serious issues using comedy, and has heart. I think it will reach immigrants from any part of the world, but also any viewer wanting to see something different from Spain and about Spain recent history.

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jotix100
2006/03/25

Spain in the 1950s and 1960s was still a poor country. Like Italians, Portuguese, in other less industrialized European nations, Spaniards that couldn't make a decent living in their own country emigrated to Germany, Switzerland, and France, where there were more possibilities for them. The idea was for the head of a family to go, start working, save as much as he could to send it back home.Martin and Pilar, a young couple, have to live with his parents in the basement apartment in the building where the older man is the super. Pilar, who had her eye in a new building in the outskirts of the city has given a deposit for the apartment she thinks is her salvation from living with the in-laws. Imagine Martin's surprise when he learns she has spent their savings for the down payment for an apartment and he has just been laid off.Marcos, one of Martin's friend, also unemployed, tells him about his intention of emigrating to Switzerland. He has heard mechanics are needed for the Swiss factories. Without no working permission the two embark in the adventure of their lives. They must leave family behind and enter Switzerland without work permits; both men are lucky not to be sent back home. The small town they decide to try their luck has a small factory where they eventually land jobs.Martin and Marcos are not prepared for the shock they receive in a country that proves to be as different from theirs like day and night. They land jobs, eventually. They have settled in a small pension in town where Hannah, the woman who runs the place doesn't understand her guests. The result result in funny situations where the Spaniards' more affable character prove to be a winning card for them. Loneliness proves to be hard for the men as their spouses are so far. Martin has an involvement with the kind Hannah.Pilar, who has decided on her own to go to Switzerland to join her husband, has spent a year's worth of remittances from Martin in the apartment that she supposedly has bought, but in reality she was duped from an unscrupulous building agent. When Pilar arrives, she senses how her husband has been having an affair, but nothing much comes out of it when they find an apartment of their own. Their life takes a nice rhythm in their new adopted country. Years go by, and after Martin's father's death, they decide to go back home, a sad mistake for the whole family.Carlos Iglesias, who wrote, directed, and starred in this film, is someone new to us. His nostalgic look at what appears to be a biographic picture, has some great moments that reflect a bygone Spain, a poor country during the years where the action takes place. The film is a hymn to those men that went to make a living, living family and friends behind. It's clear Mr. Iglesias knows what he is talking about and what comes out in the film is a loving tribute to those men who sacrificed it all in order to help their impoverished families.The director, who plays Martin, has some good moments in the film, especially the beginning of his life in the new country. Javier Gutierrez is also quite appealing as Marcos. Nieves DeMedina, is seen as Pilar, in a touching performance. Isabel Blanco, who plays Hannah, was a surprise."Un franco, 14 pesetas" proves the point that for some emigrants that try to go back home find it almost impossible to adapt themselves to a pace and an atmosphere in the old country that seems alien to them now, as it's the case with Martin's son who can't adapt himself to the Spanish ways. These people have invested a lot of their lives in a new culture and adapted with a lot of effort, so going back is not exactly easy for most of them. Leaving comforts for an uncertain life back home is not something most of these families would even consider.

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minderroland
2006/03/26

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!

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