2015, Spain\/Argentina, 108 min.<\/b><\/p>\n
Most films about terminal illness focus on the high dramatics, the withering hero finding clarity on a deathbed or lingering in a somberly lit nursing home. Here\u2019s a special film that espouses living a full life with an unforgettable, potent dignity, and that features none of those hoary trappings. Tom\u00e1s (Javier C\u00e1mara) travels from Canada to visit his old friend, Juli\u00e1n (Ricardo Dar\u00edn), a veteran actor living in Madrid. The unannounced trip comes with a gravity both men try to downplay: Julian is dying from cancer and has stopped treatment. The two friends spend four days hanging out, a good portion of which involve finding a new home for Julian\u2019s beloved dog, Truman. The movie\u2019s lack of to-do is its strongest asset, as we see Julian\u2019s last push to make his life whole, whether it\u2019s connecting with his estranged son or admonishing an old colleague for not saying \u201cHello\u201d to avoid discomfort. Throughout, Truman serves as not only a symbol for resolution but a token of love between the two men. This is a wonderful, inspirational movie, which won the Spanish equivalent of an Oscar and a slew of other international awards. It will resonate with all who have considered their mortality. In Spanish with English subtitles.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Most films about terminal illness focus on the high dramatics, the withering hero finding clarity on a deathbed or lingering in a somberly lit nursing home.<\/span><\/p>\n