The new film from acclaimed comedic director Fernando Colomo (Alegre ma non troppo) is a celebratory take on multiculturalism, a relatively new phenomenon for Spain. Jumping from one hilarious situation to the next, THE NEAR EAST is a beautifully played love story.
Cain (Javier Cifrián) is overweight, shy and unlucky in love. He has always longed for his cocky brother Abel’s successful life. Abel (Asier Etxeandia) is happily married and has kids, but is secretly using Cain’s apartment to meet his lover Aisha (Nur Al Levi), a Bangladeshi girl from the neighborhood, whose traditionobsessed parents run a local restaurant. When Aisha falls pregnant, Abel runs away and Cain decides to take care of her and the baby. But Cain soon finds his new family-in-law and their Islamic way of life won’t make things easy for him…
Set entirely within a small neighbourhood of Madrid, and ably capturing all of its chaos and charm, THE NEAR EAST is a fluidly realised and entrancing comedy – and features a wonderfully magnetic and likeable lead in Javier Cifrián.
Comedy, Spain 2006, 93min. (18+)
By: Fernando Colomo
With: Javier Cifrián, Nur Al Levi, Asier Etxeandia and Ash Varrez
Nominated for best new actor and best original song, 2007 Goya awards.
Nominated for newcomer award, Spanish actors union.