Pan Negro

I probably would have enjoyed the movie more if I were more familiar with the political and social background into which the movie is set. It is well directed and well acted, including the acting of the 12-year-old main character. The tension and air of mystery is well portrayed. The situations of the main characters are brutally honest and realistic as far as I can tell with my limited knowledge of the Catalan countryside in the postwar years.This is a coming-of-age story for Andreu, but not from a sexual standpoint (although he does gain some sexual knowledge during the movie). Instead his coming-of-age is from the standpoint that he must mature and learn to accept reality for what it is and not rely on what he is told by his parents, relatives, teachers, and peers (which do not all agree with each other). In short he must learn to think for himself and standup for himself as the truth slowly comes out, and in this case truth includes, and is complicated by, deceit and conspiracy. And I might add that this truth goes far beyond the immediate problem of his father being accused of murder.Since the movie follows Andreu and for the most part is seen from his prospective, the audience learns the truth and it complications along with Andreu.As I mentioned in my heading the "Extras" on the disc do not have an English translation. I feel that this is especially unfortunate with respect to the "Making of" video. Watching it without understanding what is being said I am sure it would have been very interesting and informative if I had been able to understand it.There is some brief nudity in the movie, a young man (probably in his early 20's) is seen running through the woods nude and then plainly while squatted and standing up by a stream. He is only seen clearly from the rear and side never from the front and the clear view lasts less than a minute. However there is another scene in which a man is held down and castrated, in this scene his genitals are clearly seen although the actual castration is not.Also, very important, this DVD is in PAL format and therefore cannot be played on the standard U. S. DVD player, you must have a player which will play the PAL format.

a friend had recommended it. I thought it would be more directly about the Spanish Cvil War which it was not.

This was a well written and played film. I hope many others get the pleasure of it's viewing.

This Blu-ray movie is presented in ONLY Spanish!!!Do NOT purchase this if you do not speak Spanish!!!I did and am now out 33 plus dollars.

Set in the 1940s, just after the Spanish Civil War ended, "Black Bread" follows the story of a young boy Andreu (Francesc Colomer, outstanding), whose friend Culet is murdered, together with his father Dionis. Just before he dies, Culet whispers a strange word to Andreu: something that refers to the monster that, some villagers believe, lives in a cave.Though "Black Bread," based on a novel by Emili Teixidor, is partly a whodunit, Agustí Villaronga's film is more aptly described as a coming-of-age story of an 11-year-old boy Andreu, who slowly realizes that the world he lives in is full of lies and dark secrets: secrets that these adults including his parents - father Farriol (Roger Casamajor), who was involved in a political movement, and mother Florència (Nora Navas), whom the town's powerful mayor (Sergi López) once loved - try to ignore.The melodramatic story unfolds against the backdrop of a post-Civil War Catalan community, showing the conflicts between the people with metaphors like the titular "black (and white) bread." The fast-paced narrative is sometimes confusing with too many characters and back stories to follow, but thanks to the superb acting from Francesc Colomer as the protagonist, "Black Bread" remains gripping throughout."Black Bread" is an official selection for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards (2011), though the film was not nominated. The film is also notable for being shot in Catalan language.

A slightly Dickensian story of a boy finding his way in the world as he learns to sacrifice sentiment for practicality and family for advantage. Beautifully filmed as well.

"Black Bread" is a movie that will keep you both at the edge of your seat and making up your own conclusions as you are watching.In the spotlight of the movie, Andreu, a child with an immense love for both his dad and mom, goes through a series of changes as reality hits him and the viewer.Along with Andreu, Pitorliua, the ghost of a local legend, is also in the spotlight of the film. As the movie progresses, you see how the legend of Pitorliua is dragging along with him Andreu's family into a series of dramatic events that keeps you, like Andreu, fabricating and dismissing hypothesis trying to figure out what is really going on.The film has several subplots going on where you are witness of the destiny of women during General Franco's regime, the questionable ideals taught at school by a also questionable local teacher, and the way homosexuality is seen at the time."Black Bread" is a film filled with unexpected twists that left me wanting for some more dramas like this at the end of it.

Just remember this movie will NOT play in a regular DVD player. A very interesting 'coming of age' movie

Gran película. Oscura, verdadera y cruda. El Goya a la mejor película española, lo tiene bien merecido. Por menos de 6€, hay que añadirla a cualquier filmoteca que se precie.

Es una película con mucho fondo humano. El tiempo de entrega de las películas de amazon.es es demasiado largo y le falta calidad a la portada. La calidad de imagen es muy buena.

He disfrutado mucho la película. La interpretación de los actores me parece excelente y me ha servido para conocer un poco mas nuestro pasado

Excelente película, historia, actores, realización sobre un tema apacionante la guerra civil española. Pena no tener subtítulos en portugês. Saludos