Directed by Carla Simón 
Starring Jordi Pujol Dolcet, Anna Otin, Xènia Roset and Albert Bosch

Just how much can a decades-old verbal agreement cost in a merciless modern world? For generations of the close-knit Solé family in the small village of Alcarràs, Catalonia, the answer is almost everything. 

The trusted arrangement that’s been in place for longer than most members of this family have been alive is what’s keeping them together. They all live and work on an orchard where every summer they pick peaches, but when the landowner passes away, that agreement loses validity. Subsequently, a forthcoming change in the use of the land from its inheritor brings an uncertain future for each and every one of them.

Once our couple of hours in the company of the Solé family have come and gone, the aspect I had the most appreciation for was its grass roots. Alcarràs is spoken in the Western dialect of the Catalan language and the cast comprises of non-professional actors from the Spanish municipality. The naturalism these facets instil into the picture enable it to ground viewers in the present and do testify that their livelihood on the farm is as integral to their identity as they are to each other. In fact, embedding their everyday interactions and mundanities of their duties is the absolute core of this drama. Any mention or development to proceedings that threatens to separate them is intermittent at best. While their inevitable eviction slowly nears, Alcarràs also allows its viewers to ponder alternatives. Though not intentional, this rather underwhelming film highlights the importance of adapting to change and moving with the times. Easier said than done, yet those who will themselves (and others) to address challenges head on and reinvent earn inspiration. As resistant as the Solé family are to their fate, I felt equally resistant to maintaining any initial empathy had for them.

Alcarràs is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from July 27th.

Moviedoc thanks Palace Films for the invite to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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