Sonrisas y lágrimas

I admit that I could imagine it being an hour shorter and it would still be just as positive and beautiful, and besides, without Nazis, but even with them it's good, although I was afraid it might slide into something overly pathetic. Thankfully, that didn't happen and the whole main family is stunningly talented both in acting and singing. (26.05.2015)

A very sweet musical that even after all these years hasn’t lost its simple charm and the optimistic mood that radiates from it. But why is the magic so simple? How many other movies in the genre deliver exclusively static dance numbers, hard-to-remember melodies and sentimental humour, and yet make you keep your eyes on them for two and a half hours? It is not great filmmaking, but it is extremely honest filmmaking, visually disarming and supported by a pair of wonderful actors, whose characters we become firmly attached to, and whose "dark" ending make us keep our fingers crossed. The premise may have called for the script not to overflow with so much comfort and one-dimensional family message, but hand on heart, other than with just such humour and constant level of optimism, this legend simply could not work so well and lastingly. (28.10.2016)