Overrated

It is a performances centric movie

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Enjoyable biographic movie well written , played and directed by Carlos Iglesias , being a following to "Un Franco, Catorce Pesetas" (Crossing Borders, 2006) . Carlos Iglesias's third big-screen full-length movie as filmmaker , the first was a hit among viewers ; however , this one got little success at Spanish box office . The original film dealt with Marcos (Javier Gutierrez) and Martin (Carlos Iglesias) , they are two good workers in the Spain of the 60's , but without job , as two friends said goodbye their families and go abroad . Nowadays (1974) , Marcos is in Switzerland with a nice job and Martin in Madrid , but in Spain of the seventies , imminent Franco's death , there's deep crisis and 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 . Meanwhile , Martin's son , Pablo( Adrián Expósito) and his friend Juan (Luisber Santiago) fleeing from political oppression and military duty go to to Switzerland though wrongly stop in Austria . It happens baptism of Marcos's son , then friends and family : grandmother (Tina Sainz) , sister Luisa (Eloísa Vargas) and friends go to the marvelous small Swiss town called Uzwil . 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 third big-screen full-length movie as director , the first was "Un Franco, Catorce Pesetas", was a success among spectators, as well as a hit smash in the various film festivals it took part in . His nostalgic look at what appears to be a biographic film , has some great moments that reflect a Spain of the seventies , when , a poor country during the years where the action takes place. The movie plot about the life of Spanish immigrants in Switzerland in the late 1960s and 1970s 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 . The flick is an adequate homage to those people from the sixties and seventies that went to make a new life , leaving family and relatives as well as friends behind . They find it almost impossible to adapt themselves to a customs , language and an atmosphere in the old country that seems alien to them now . There takes place the problems to adapt into Switzerland ; but later on , they discover a new and agreeable life . 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 . Actors are frankly magnificent with a first-rate acting for whole cast . The players are simply perfect, the tale flows at the alright pace , and you enjoy the picture from beginning to end . Sensational Carlos Iglesias along with the wife played Nieve De Medina and Isabel Blanco as Hanna , among others . Special mention for Jorge Roelas as Padre Anselmo , a nutty and singer priest , Roberto Alvarez as a tax evasive and veteran Tina Saiz as desperate grandmother . Moving and stirring musical score by Mario De Benito . Colorful cinematography by Paco Sánchez Polo who shows splendidly the ambient by that time and specially the breathtaking Swiss mountains and glimmer outdoors . The motion picture was stunningly 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", in Chejov's "Polinka" , in Federico García Lorca's "El Público" , 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 . His first film as a filmmaker was ¨Un Franco Catorce Pesetas¨ , and followed ¨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 great Carlos Iglesias has directed three good pictures about immigration problems : ¨1 Franco 14 Pesetas¨, ¨2 Francos 40 Pesetas¨ and ¨Ispansi¨ , besides a short documentary titled ¨Un Euro, 3,6 Lei¨. Rating ¨2 Francos 40 Pesetas¨ : 7'5 , worthwhile watching , essential and indispensable seeing for Spanish cinema buffs . It is wonderful film , beautifully shot , with light yet very effective humour . Along with the first part have been recently edited directly to video in a lush pack getting a lot of success .