Truly Dreadful Film

Fantastic!

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

THE TIME OF HAPPINESS, the official and literal English translation of the original title sums up the film perfectly. This is a light, family-oriented (in the Spanish sense) dramatic comedy with a predictable cast of characters. Of real curiosity value is the cast. The parents are played by two of Spain's best adult actors (even back then), but the children and their friends are played by young actors who have recently blossomed into Spain's biggest stars: Fele Martinez (ABRE LOS OJOS, AMANTES DEL CIRCULO POLAR), Liberto Rabal (the male "Live Flesh" in CARNE TREMULA), Pepon Nieto, and Carlos Fuentes.