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Carmen del Valle, Miguel Gutiérrez, Andres Gertrudix, Alfonso Vallejo, Manuel Morón ... see more see more... , Alberto Jiménez , Juan José Ballesta , Nieve de Medina

A boy from an abusive home finds a new lease on life through friendship in this drama from Spain. Pablo (Juan Jose Ballesta) is a 12-year-old boy growing up in an underprivileged neighborhood in Madri... read more read more...d. Pablo doesn't have many friends, and his home life is not happy -- his father Mariano (Manuel Maron) often beats him, and his mother Aurora (Golria Munoz) doesn't know what to do about it. Alfredo (Pablo Galan) is a new boy in town who has just enrolled in Pablo's class at school; Pablo and Alfredo strike up an immediate friendship, and Pablo feels comfortable with Alfredo's family, particularly his father Jose (Alberto Gimenez), who draws tattoos for a living, and his mother Marisa (Nieve de Medina). Alfredo's godfather has been hospitalized with AIDS-related illnesses, and when Alfredo goes to visit him, Pablo tags along, which angers Mariano and leads to another violent episode. Alfredo notices Pablo's bruises and tells his parents, and Jose enlists a social worker, Laura (Ana Wagener), to help find a safer environment for the boy. El Bola was produced in association with UNICEF. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

85% liked it

2,514 ratings

Critics

91% liked it

11 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Achero Mañas

Release Date: October 20, 2000

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DVD Release Date: January 1, 2005

Stats: 133 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (133)

  • flixsterman
    May 6, 2010
    flixsterman
    Reminiscent of The 400 Blows, this is a powerful story about child abuse and the positive impact of friendship. Achero Mañas coaxes exceptional performances from his young actors. A sad but effective film.
  • mvieaddict
    June 1, 2010
    mvieaddict
    Children abuse was never an easy topic to get into when telling a story due to the fact its a very sensitive issue to show on screen.Spanish director Achero Mañas movie EL BOLA, winners of the 2001 Goya Awards, showed here the issue of child abuse, and how okay it was that the fa... read morether imposed his power over his family, because he was the breadwinner and he was always right. This movie showed growing up, friendship, despair and hope. The game the boys played at the train tracks came over as a death wish, because their lives were miserable.Alfredo the newcomer who had a normal life found the game stupid and refused to play.This was a difference with the other children,because he was raised by loving parents.Acting was perfect and cinematography was amazing. Pablo was really good in his role. I wondered how the ending would be, and it was perfect.
  • skiproads
    January 15, 2012
    skiproads
    I enjoyed this movie. Good story, good characters. Well acted, good story. Reminiscent of Truffaut's 400 Blows - only in modern day Spain.
  • brunolot1
    November 20, 2011
    brunolot1
    Really good! Just got a little bit disappointed with the end, since I bet most viewers were hoping that something bad would happen to the little boy's father. Besides the obvious, it's a movie that perfectly captures the deep emotions involved in two outcast teenage boys becoming... read more friends.

View All El Bola Reviews

Critic Reviews

Robert K. Elder
December 13, 2002
Robert K. Elder, Chicago Tribune

Mana gives us compelling, damaged characters who we want to help -- or hurt. Full Review

V.A. Musetto
December 13, 2002
V.A. Musetto, New York Post

Never [sinks] into exploitation.

Leslie Camhi
December 10, 2002
Leslie Camhi, Village Voice

At once subtle and visceral, the film never succumbs to the trap of the maudlin or tearful, offering instead with its unflinching gaze a measure of faith in the future. Full Review

Stephen Holden
December 10, 2002
Stephen Holden, New York Times

As blunt as it is in depicting child abuse, El Bola is a movie steeped in an ambiguity that lends its conflicts a symbolic resonance. Full Review

Arthur Lazere
April 9, 2003
Arthur Lazere, culturevulture.net

Deliberately and skillfully uses ambiguity to suggest possibilities which imbue the theme with added depth and resonance. Full Review

Josh Ralske
February 2, 2003
Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

A simple, but gritty and well-acted ensemble drama that encompasses a potent metaphor for a country still dealing with its fascist past. Full Review

Maria Garcia
January 21, 2003
Maria Garcia, Film Journal International

An exceptional film. Full Review

Maitland McDonagh
December 13, 2002
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide

Though uniformly well acted, especially by young Ballesta and Galan (a first-time actor), writer/director Achero Manas's film is schematic and obvious. Full Review

John A. Nesbit
December 12, 2002
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews

Although largely a heavy-handed indictment of parental failings ... the film retains ambiguities that make it well worth watching Full Review

Donald J. Levit
December 10, 2002
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews

Not employing gimmicks or tipping off the nightmare to be faced,'El Bola' draws us in. Full Review

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