Popular reviews

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  Review by sakana1 ★★★★ 3

  El camino is the perceptive, delicate story of a boy growing up. Directed by Spanish actress Ana Mariscal, the film also offers a sharp but humorous critique of both the Catholic Church and the censorship that was de rigueur in Franco's Spain.

  When the film begins, young 'Owl' (José Antonio Mejías) and his two friends live lives completely separate from those of the adults in their little village. The three boys play in the river, marvel at the miracle of birth (babies, according to the best informed of the bunch, are born as hideous creatures with no features other than a huge mouth), steal apples and, in the case of Owl, lust after the seemingly cosmopolitain daughter of the community's…

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  Review by KaoriKap ★★★★

  It is no simply "criticism of the Church" or "religion bad" film, which would make it much more shallow and plain dumber than it actually is. In fact, it is a film about grieving (so suitably ending in a literal death and funeral of one of the characters), grieving for a dying rural life in the wake of rapid urbanization and the rise of industrial capitalism in Spain during the second half of the 20th century. And it is even aptly underlined by the very first narration lines the movie opens with, so that you won't miss the main theme.

  El camino captures very well the ambiguity of the villagers' attitudes towards technological and industrial advancements, represented by a big…

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  Review by EpicGangnamStyl ½ 1

  Horrid, there was no Jesse Pinkman, or Walter White, huge let down.

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  Review by mdoloressa ★★★★

  Es tan sencilla que llega al corazón.

  Entre los diálogos que mantienen los niños protagonistas, destaco los siguientes:
  "—¿Qué es progresar?

  —Me parece que ganar más dinero que tu padre, trabajando menos."

  
  "Y después de tanto estudiar, los señoritos de la ciudad, no saben distinguir un cagajón de una boñiga."

  
  "La vejez sale de tener sucias las tripas."

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  Review by Jarrod White ★★★★ 1

  Ultimately moving, and works splendidly as a familiar and yet still compelling episodic snapshot of a child growing up and the small town of colorful individuals. As such it is both cozy and easygoing, while still filling one with the curiosity of a child, seeing people and places fresh and clever and worth exploration. Initially makes jabs and jokes of the silliness of the village's ensemble, but eventually comes to begin to deepen their characters, showing a touching fondness towards them.

  Mariscal's direction is very understated, certainly in a neorealist mode. She has coaxed really quite good performances out of everyone, children included.

  Definitely doesn't deserve to be as obscure as it is.

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  Review by Avirup

  A lovely, charming and ultimately touching portrait of a small Spanish town with a sharp critique of the catholic church all done in neorealist fashion and seen through a kid's POV. Brilliantly directed by Ana Mariscal as she expertly blends humour with more serious elements, the way this quietly turns dark was exceptionally well done. She does a great job of bringing this village to life with wonderfully crafted atmosphere and strong character work ,she has clear sympathy for this town life and even for its flawed and highly conservative people — it's a film full of life and warmth despite its dark undertones. A gem of a film.

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  Review by AntoniusBlock7 ★★★½

  Slow going and episodic over much of its runtime, so much so that I didn’t think I’d like it, but finishes strong. There’s not a grand story here but it feels like memories of childhood in a rural Spanish village, presented in a very authentic way. It has bits of humor and tragedy, but what I liked best about it was how it showed the grip religion had over the town, and how its older women kowtowed to the local priest. One of them gets highly distraught over even imagining her possible sins if she were put in another person’s position. There’s also a ‘Stand By Me’ vibe about the film, with boys getting up to various things, stealing apples,…

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  Review by Lencho of the Apes ★★★½

  Half kid neorealism, half Bunuelian smackdown of conservative rural Spain's thralldom to Mother Church -- they got away with it by showing the conduct of their elderly church-ladies without editorializing, but their shriveled, pious pettiness is obvious and there's no mistaking where the creators' sympathies lie. Also, woman director -- still quite uncommon in 1963.

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  Review by marialealdejour ★★★★½

  Es perfecta. Me encanta la novela de Delibes, la infancia en los pueblos, tener que irse a la ciudad para tener más oportunidades, el cine que montan en el pueblo, la España rural de los 50, que los niños sepan reconocer las aves por su canto…
  Esta peli lo es todo

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  Review by Allison ★★★★½

  Really loved this one. El Camino does a great job of mixing funny and serious tone. Lots of great comedy moments with the religious folks trying to censor the village's behavior in more and more outlandish ways, but even they remain sympathetic characters. And the turns to more serious moments always felt organic. This is criminally under seen and I'm grateful for TCM bringing this to people's attention.

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  Review by davidpardi97 ★★★½

  "Prométeme que no dejarás nunca que te quiten esas pecas" 💔

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  Review by louise:) ★★★

  très inégal et pourtant les vibes de cinema paradiso et le thème de l’enfance me touchent toujours autant, je peux pas résister :’)

  Tu te souviendras de moi ?