SOLAS aka ALONE

Year: 1999
USA: Samuel Goldwyn Films
UK: Artificial Eye
Cast: Ana Fernandez, Maria Galiana, Paco De Osca, Carlos Alvarez-Novoa, Juan Fernandez, Antonio Perez Dechent, Miguel Alobar, Pilar Sanchez, Concha Galan, Paco Tous, Rosario Lara, Estrella Tavora, Jose Manuel Seoa, Magdalena Barrero, Sebastian Herrero
Director: Benito Zambrano
Country: Spain
Language: Spanish (English subtitles)
USA: 98 mins
UK: 100 mins
UK Certificate: 15 contains some strong language and some moderate sex references
USA Release Date: 29 September 2000 (Limited Release - Los Angeles)
USA Release Date: 8 September 2000 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 20 July 2001

Synopsis

In the director's debut, low-budget feature film SOLAS aka ALONE, Benito Zambrano theorises that loneliness and poverty can be overcome when remembering how to care for others.

Maria (Ana Fernandez), who is sick and tired of her father's abusiveness and her mother's passiveness, flees her parents rural home in Andalusia. However her mother (Maria Galiana) is now staying with her while her husband is recuperating in hospital.

As Maria attempts to make a fresh start to her life with her job and relationships with men, her mother busies herself in the background trying to brighten her daughter's life including that of an elderly, lonely neighbour and their dog. Slowly, Maria realises that behind her mother's passive facade is a strength and compassion that is rare in modern Spain.