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just a reviewer wrote on 06/19/2006:

SPOILERS++++++++SPOILERS++++++++SPOILERS++++++++SPOILERS++++++++SPOILERS XXXXXXXXXXXXXSpain's little "Brokeback Mountain" (Pequeno 'Brokeback' Montana de Espana // pardon my Spanish): While it doesn't have cowboys, rodeo-ers, vaqueros or caballeros and Director, Gerardo Vera isn't another Ang Lee, this Spanish filmmaker has given us a pretty damn good gay love story. It has to be asked: what man other than Ennis could be so conflicted over the love of his life, than is Alberto? And, hey, this film doesn't end on an upbeat note, either.......but it does give us a couple of men who have a deep love for one another (and, by the way, some of the hottest male-on-male anal intercourse scenes in a non-pornographic film--be sure to buy Unrated version). Lastly, it,too, has things that keep our conflicted couple from being together. Yet, despite these pluses, TLA has given this major, and majorly well-done, gay love story very short shrift (only 2-Stars....whoa!)XXXXXXXXXXXXXNOW FOR MY REVIEW--**********My actual rating is 10 Big Stars. ((1)). How utterly devastating for lead character, Alberto, as for any of us, to face the realization that everything he'd done in life (carrying on a family work tradition, courting and marrying, parenting) is NOT who he really is. Elena's discovery of his activities forces this realization on him and places him in a situation with which he can not cope. We so clearly see this realization in his final return to their home (too late for his son's birthday party and after yet another session of love-making and sexual intercourse with Diego) where he is greeted by Elena's "how-could-you / final straw" stare. It's a look he knows he deserves, yet one to which Alberto can only respond by mutely sinking into a chair, the complete despair on his face so plainly telling us he's aware it's finally over between them. It's a grief stricken expression that says: I can't do this any more. ((2)). He tells us in his final film moments that he has never been allowed to truly be who he's wanted ("I've been lying since I was a kid / hated those with me in school / hated my job"). A third generation (grandfather, father before him) airport operations worker, a husband / father......all roles 'expected' of him, all roles in which he'd truly tried to give his best. But, in the end, all that trying wasn't enough. Nor was finding "the love of his life" (Javier Bardem's Diego) to be enough, although he'd thought....hoped....it would be. Recall that, in the afterglow of their sexual intercourse, Alberto looks to Diego, lying at this side, and says: "I think this was the best time I've had in my whole life." Then in a later scene, following intercourse: "I love you, Diego. I will for a long time." Can there be any doubt who was the one for him? Still, it was his conflict over this very love which would bring everything crashing down. ((3)). So, it isn't at all that his love for Elena is greater, it's that his commitment to their life had been pushed to become so strong (expectations......expectations, they'll do that to you). And at the near conclusion of everything, when Diego says: "you have to start over......," you can plainly see the realization in Jordi Molla's oh-so-expressive eyes and face (this man is so beautiful), that he's just at a complete and total loss for knowing how to keep and love a family, as he's been strictly raised to do, and at the same time have the relationship he must have with Diego, the love of his life. Yes, it is his conflict over this very love which will bring everything crashing down, and his non-solution will be to run, run from it all. Doing so will result in tragedy. ((4)). FINAL RESTATEMENT--In the end, then, we can see that we have been given the study of a man, raised to be something he isn't. It's the story of oh, so many out there. Some are able to break the mold, others not---the strength of commitment (to spouse, to children, family) being too great. Or that's the excuse that's used for staying within the mold. Ah, but the longings, those yearnings for "the other" are there.......always there.......and they hurt. Alberto was able to break from the mold, but only to a point. And in the end, trying to live in both worlds tore him apart emotionally. This film shows you the results. ((5)). AN ASIDE TO TLA'S REVIEWER--To Scott Cranin, who uses the term, "soap operatic," in his write-up, let me refrain from calling you something less than complimentary. But do let me point out to you that finding yourself in Alberto's situation hurts; it hurts a lot (you might want to ask someone named Ennis about that). ((6)). PS--Maybe all we buyers and review readers should ask TLA's Scott to relook/rethink some of his comments, for example: ((a)). "....and he sleeps with men on his business trips." Well, DVD viewers, my several runs through this film have shown me nothing at all to indicate that Alberto sleeps around on business trips. To the contrary, it would be my impression that Diego is Alberto's "first" (and lucky for him that it could be a "love of your life" kind of event). ((b)). "....and begins a long-distance affair with Diego,.." I saw nothing that indicates Alberto and Diego don't live in the same city. ((c)). I will give Scott his due for making the comment about "....getting the chance to see Javier Bardem in bed with another man..." But, frankly, it's that "other man" who I much prefer seeing in bed. ((d)). And sorry, Scott, I think the characters are likeable......even Alma's counterpart, Elena. ((7)). FINALLY: Yes, I'd recommend you buy this. I think it's pretty close to being up there with "Broke Mountain" and "Just A Question Of Love."

MarcusLee (marcusleemays@sbcglobal.net) wrote on 04/10/2005:

Javier Bardem was very hot in this film. And yes, the story line is as old as life itself, one needs to be loved. I did not like the ending and thought it was sad and too sudden but the characters were very compelling and complex. And the little son of the family asking where his father and mother are is moving. The separation and divorce is heartbreaking. Director Gerardo Vera sets this film up perfectly.

marty wrote on 06/04/2004:

picture quality on the vhs was spotty... sometimes grainy, sometimes perfectly clear. soundtrack was lush. the movie was very well acted. however the "oh dear! my hubby's queer" plot line seems out of place in the 21st century - especially among college educated people. but i guess gay boys still marry women to protect the family inheritance... as for the ending - it almost seems like the writers said "i've got 1-1/2 hours of film - time to wrap this up." kind of a let down after all the good stuff that came before.

G Us wrote on 04/23/2003:

We sometimes need what we need in that moment. Second skin is life--the hard, gritty part that we just don't understand. If only we could see more of this on TV. Yes the sex is hot--very passionate(QAF should take a lesson here). Yes the guys are super handsome. But this film certainly is much more than a skin flick! This is quality stuff. We don't always need a happy ending.

xxhot2trot wrote on 04/18/2003:

I hated the ending, but the sex scenes were really steamy. Ultimately, the film seemed to have almost no point to it, other than the futility ofloving someone in the closet, or the potential destructiveness of being in t he closet.

I couldn't really quite figure out what the handsome surgeon saw in the closeted married man, who stood him up so many times it was ridiculous after a while. The married closet case such a liar, unlikable, and untimately self-hating.

But Mr. Jardin sure is pretty. For him alone, the film is worth catching.