Angela, a young mother learns her husband Fran is a dirty cop. Not only is he corrupted, but he has sired a boy with another woman, about the same time she was pregnant with Guille, her own son. To make matters worse, Angela learns her father has died three hours before she arrives in Madrid, where he has been hospitalized. Charo, her dad's lover, has come to meet her and break the news.The dead man had owned a pool hall, which now belongs to Angela. She figures the place needs a makeover, and asks Charo to be her partner. Angela also wants to bring back the old man's friends to form a team and compete in the national pool championships, where some serious money can be earned. Her relationship with Charo is difficult, but all is solved by the end, as they bring together the team connected to the dead man, who was the driving spirit of the place.The main attraction in watching the film was to see how Maribel Verdu (Pan's Labyrinth) and the excellent Blanca Portillo's (Volver) fared in the film. It was directed by Gracia Querejeta, who co-wrote the script. Alas, we are not as rhapsodic as the person who submitted the other commentary for the film, which went to win best screenplay at San Sebastian Film Festival. Unfortunately one cannot trust awards given at those events because in most cases they are politically motivated, as appears to be the case here. It is a glorified melodrama with soap opera overtones thrown in, typical in some films from Spain, where the writing is not one of its stronger points. Although not a terrible film, it had the probability of being better. Ms. Verdu and Ms. Portillo do a fine job, as we expected, but the interest in the film was a hope that was not fulfilled.

This film is directed by Gracia Querejeta, a terrific Spanish female director who also directed films such as CUANDO VUELVAS A MI LADO o HÉCTOR. It was on the official section of San Sebastian Film Festival where it received great reviews, especially for the two lead actresses, Maribel Verdú and Blanca Portillo. The last won the prize for best actress. It was kind of strange because everybody was expecting Maribel Verdú to win, but finally her co-star was the awarded one. I think that both actresses should had won ex-aequo.The film is about Ángela (Maribel Verdú) and Charo (Blanca Portillo) two women who struggles to survive after a relative passed away. That man was Ángela's father and was Charo's de facto husband. I'm not going to explain all the film, but I have to say that is a wonderful tale where we can see how two person with nothing in common(only the man who passed away) help each other although they have their differences. It's about woman's great sense of companionship in rough situations. Superb performances by all the cast, especially Maribel Verdú, Blanca Portillo, Victor Valdivia as Ángela's little son, Jesús Castejón as Charo's love interest and Lorena Vindel as a south American young girl who worked for Angela's father and help her with the new bar. Terrific script by Gracia Querejeta and David Planell, that was awarded on San Sebastian Film Festival too.I have to mention the end of the film. It's a perfect ending, simply perfect.It couldn't have finished of another way.**** 1/2 out of *****