Gripping narrative

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Biutiful is a slice of life that can be depressing
but it is European cinema at its very best

WHY is beautiful spelt thus? Simple. Because it is a Spaniard, Uxbal, (Xavier Bardem), who is spelling it. And he is a man of many talents facing death in a Barcelona slum. But to get into the psyche of this ‘loser’, who can even communicate with the dead, there is none better than Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, whose last effort I saw was Babel.

The establishing shots are ephemeral. Two guys in a celestial setting, discussing the sound of sea. One of them, not Uxbal, mimics that sound, which Uxbal’s mother had never heard. As this is not enough, he then does the sound of the winds, too. And then both together. It’s unmistakable. Unbelievable.

Then cut to the Barcelona slum in which our anti-hero resides. Cinematographer Preito dwells essentially on interiors. Poorly lit sets, dark, dingy abodes, where light is a revelation. It sets the mood for this dreary but gripping narrative. May be, Uxbal is symbolic of thousands, who live below the poverty line with soccer as their only succour.

Uxbal is stricken with cancer and doesn’t have much time in which to settle his meager inheritance. His wife Marambra (Maricel Alvarez) is a slut, who is in and out of his life. But he is very close to his kids, Ana (Bea) and Matteo (Guillermo Estrella), who do not hesitate to despise their mother. But it is Uxbal’s love for his kids that comes across strongly and he wants to cling to them`85forever.

In typical Inarritu style, the story pans on a plethora of cameos from the Chinese immigrants, who live huddled together in one dormitory, his playboy brother, whose nightclub exploits know no end, the Senegalese couple which is separated. That Uxbal earns his money in a shady manner is more or less glossed over. But then, tragedy strikes, like the hammer of Thor. Underplayed but effective.

It is 150 minutes of powerful narrative with some scenes seemingly unimportant but then that’s Inarritu’s way of going about things. For Xavier Bardem, it is an unforgettable performance and at no time does one feel he is playing a part. Little wonder, he was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar. Bardem is ably supported by Maricel Alvares as his vagrant wife and Bea and Guillermo Estrella as his two lovable children.

Biutiful is not an entertainer. It is a slice of life that can be depressing but it is European cinema at its very best. Go for it in that frame of mind.

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