Even the Rain

EVEN THE RAIN (También la lluvia) is a brilliant metaphor of a story written by Paul Laverty based on an actual event and directed with considerable skill by Icíar Bollaín, the great Spanish actress, writer and director. This film is one of those rare 'docudramas' that bring to light historical 'secrets' that beg to be shared. In 2000 an American water company bought the water supply from the Bolivian government and the citizens of Bolivia were banned from collecting rainwater which had become corporate property. This resulted in a violent protest against the government by the indigenous Indians and the citizenry of Cochambamba, Bolivia who claimed their rights to the natural gifts of nature even the rain. Laverty and Bollaín expose this injustice through a well-conceived story within a story.

Spanish film director Sebastián (Gael García Bernal), his cynical producer Costa (Luis Tosar), and crew including Antón (Karra Elejalde) have come to Cochabamba, Bolivia to shoot their film about Christopher Columbus (played by actor Antón Karra Elejalde) and his first explorations, revealing the way the Spaniards treated the native Indians: Costa has chosen the place because he can get cheap labor in using local actors and extras to keep within the small budget of the film. Sebastián is the compassionate one who wants the Indians treated well, hiring a mouthy young Indian named Hatuey/Daniel (Juan Carlos Aduviri) when he claims he and his family are being unjustly overlooked as actor candidates. The filming goes well, with the exception of some minor glitches for particular scenes the Indians find too dangerous, until a conflict develops over the governmental privatization of the water supply. Daniel becomes an activist against the government who plan a 300% increase in price of water the average daily income for the Indians is $2. a day! and the conditions in the city become unfriendly for the film to continue. Bloody violence and chaos breakout and many citizens are being killed or jailed. It is at this point that the caring Sebastián finally decides that he and his crew must flee, and with some role reversal, Costa stays behind to protect Daniel's family.

According to Bollaín, 'It was the gold 500 years ago, and now it's the water, which is the gold of the 21st century. Before it was the Crown of Spain and the pope who approved the conquest. Now it is the new theologians, the IMF and the World Bank. Again it's the word from above, saying, 'This is right.' The Spanish filmmakers in the film-within-a-film are caught in the middle. They have the attitude of neo-conquerors they go there because it's cheap. But they're also trying to make a film that casts a different look on the conquest. And it's an adventure.'

Iciar Bollaín directs this epic film with great dignity and with a keen observation of how history, even inadvertently, repeats itself. The cinematography by Alex Catalán and the musical score by Alberto Iglesias add immeasurably to the film's success. The cast of extras is exceptional and very well directed. Both Gael García Bernal and Luis Tosar deliver intensely considered performances as does Juan Carlos Aduviri as the key central figure Daniel. Hopefully this film, nominated for Best Foreign Film in the 2010 Academy Awards. In Spanish with English subtitles. Grady Harp, May 11

This is an excellent film based upon reams of historical evidence as documented by such acclaimed historians as Howard Zinn (A Peoples History of the United States) and David Stannard (American Holocaust) and others. Its subtle, if not so subtle, comparisons with the greed for gold and exploitation of Indigenous Peoples by the original conquistadors and other "discoverers" of the now so called Americas with the present day call for privatization of water by the International Monetary Fund is extremely poignant and moving. That "we the people" will not let elite policymakers in collusion with governments get away with exploiting resources, like water, fundamental to human survival was a major message that the world witnessed in the uprisings in Bolivia roughly a decade ago. Well acted and emotionally compelling, it is also interspersed with real life stories of sacrifice and heroism to help loved ones in need. Human Rights and Social Justice: Social Action and Service for the Helping and Health Professions

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The movie tells the story of Native South Americans who are fighting for basic resources to survive. The struggles that began with the Spanish terrorists hundreds of years ago (circa 15th century) continue into the present day in this film. It's worth viewing. It sparked my interest in learning more about present day Bolivia.

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Seems at times like being behind the scenes of a Werner Herzog film. The play of the filming of Christopher Columbus' first voyage and its effect on the natives against the current plight of the Bolivian cast working in the film while at the same time fighting for access to water in their city is remarkably effective in demonstrating how little has changed over the centuries. Insightful, funny, passionate, touching, and ultimately uplifting.

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Set in Bolivia, this Spanish film stars Gael Garcia Bernal (`Amores Perros', `Bad Education' and `Rudi y Cursi') as film director Sebastian. He is making a film in the Cochabamba region with his exec producer Costa (Luis Tosar `Cell 211', `Mr Nice' and `Miami Vice'). They have chosen the area because they are on a limited budget and know they can hire local extras for next to nothing.

At auditioning a feisty Indian, Daniel kicks up a fuss about not getting a screen test, Sebastian decides to take him on. They are shooting a film about Columbus set in 1511, and they want to use contemporary accounts as much as possible to keep it accurate. They are also keen to show how the Indians were exploited by the Spanish Empire and show a few good men who stood up for the Indians and the tyranny of the Church.

Things go well at first and the historical scenes are absolutely brilliant would make an excellent film in itself to be honest. But then they discover that Daniel is a leading activist against the privatisation of water or more accurately the theft of water, which is referenced in the title of the film. The local police enforce the foreign privately owned water companies policies and as water means life, it is only inevitable that the Indians will fight back.

So as filming rolls on, the five hundred year old events start to have a strange resonance with what is actually taking place in the present, and the parallels with the Conquistadors is only too obvious.

This then is a truly brilliant piece of cinema; you almost get two films in one or three if you include the people making a documentary of the making of the film. Yes it sounds complicated but it really works. The framing of the shots is superb, the scenery stunning, all the actors do an excellent job and some of the crowd scenes have a real feeling of documentary which all adds to the realism. It is also shamelessly emotional and I suppose it was inevitable given the subject matter and had me moved a couple of times, so I can not recommend highly enough. In Spanish, with some English and sub titles that are sometimes slightly obscured, but still alright, this is a film for anyone who likes their cinema slightly different or indeed likes world cinema. This was written by the uber talented Paul Laverty (`The Wind That Shakes The barley', `Sweet Sixteen' and `Route Irish') and I cant wait to see his next offering (`The Angels Share') until then I will watch this again as it is just that good.