The film lacks the lively spark and sense of nationwide collectivism of Jennings' subsequent film, Listen to Britain.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

The film lacks the lively spark and sense of nationwide collectivism of Jennings' subsequent film, Listen to Britain.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Although darkly funny the film also has strong undercurrents of genuine emotion - Gloria's despair is real rather than comic.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Although darkly funny the film also has strong undercurrents of genuine emotion - Gloria's despair is real rather than comic.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

In a manner befitting the tightrope walked by Navas in her performance, what could be a tragedy becomes tragicomedy.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

In a manner befitting the tightrope walked by Navas in her performance, what could be a tragedy becomes tragicomedy.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

A lot of the film's subversiveness comes from the juxtaposition between what the narrator says (and you can almost hear the chuckle in Rey's voice) and what we see.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

A lot of the film's subversiveness comes from the juxtaposition between what the narrator says (and you can almost hear the chuckle in Rey's voice) and what we see.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

There is a fairytale vibe to proceedings, enhanced by the snow through which he trudges in the parks.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

There is a fairytale vibe to proceedings, enhanced by the snow through which he trudges in the parks.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Portabella's repurposing and reimagining of the elements at Franco's disposal creates something genuinely (and appropriately) otherworldly.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Portabella's repurposing and reimagining of the elements at Franco's disposal creates something genuinely (and appropriately) otherworldly.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

There is a fascinating delineation of public and private personas, but Luis evidently expected the footage to be watched by others - he winks at, and talks to, the camera when he is on his own.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

There is a fascinating delineation of public and private personas, but Luis evidently expected the footage to be watched by others - he winks at, and talks to, the camera when he is on his own.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

To watch Utopias in 2016 is to experience a sense of déjà vu - it shows the NHS and whole concept of the welfare state under attack while the Labour Party flounders through factionalism and an inability to articulate a vision of the future.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

To watch Utopias in 2016 is to experience a sense of déjà vu - it shows the NHS and whole concept of the welfare state under attack while the Labour Party flounders through factionalism and an inability to articulate a vision of the future.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Not for the squeamish, the short essay film effectively represents the life cycle in reverse.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Not for the squeamish, the short essay film effectively represents the life cycle in reverse.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

The film takes a compassionate stance towards the unemployed.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

The film takes a compassionate stance towards the unemployed.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

The film's combination of comedy (Berlanga) and melodrama (Bardem) is rooted in a realistic, cash-strapped milieu that was unusual in Spanish cinema at the time.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

The film's combination of comedy (Berlanga) and melodrama (Bardem) is rooted in a realistic, cash-strapped milieu that was unusual in Spanish cinema at the time.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

The comedy is generally broad but by extension travels well, breezily utilising stereotypes (fiery Spaniards versus hesitant Brits) that audiences are readily familiar with.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

The comedy is generally broad but by extension travels well, breezily utilising stereotypes (fiery Spaniards versus hesitant Brits) that audiences are readily familiar with.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

As is often the case in ensemble films, certain storylines are better served than others and the constant juxtapositions unavoidably highlight that.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

As is often the case in ensemble films, certain storylines are better served than others and the constant juxtapositions unavoidably highlight that.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Although an undoubted classic of the period - and featuring one of cinema's best child performances in Torrent - the allusive and elusive style of the film is difficult to engage with.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Although an undoubted classic of the period - and featuring one of cinema's best child performances in Torrent - the allusive and elusive style of the film is difficult to engage with.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Safia Benhaim has constructed a haunting film.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Safia Benhaim has constructed a haunting film.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Jennings had an eye for small moments that signal real life rather than something staged for the camera

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Jennings had an eye for small moments that signal real life rather than something staged for the camera

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Although there will no doubt be some cultural references that go over the heads of non-Spanish audiences, the stereotypes and prejudices played with are broad enough for us to get most of the jokes.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Although there will no doubt be some cultural references that go over the heads of non-Spanish audiences, the stereotypes and prejudices played with are broad enough for us to get most of the jokes.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

The film suggests that the story ignites a sense of working class solidarity.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

The film suggests that the story ignites a sense of working class solidarity.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Well worth the effort of tuning into its wavelength.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Well worth the effort of tuning into its wavelength.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

The absence of social or political context makes it difficult to judge the veracity of what we're told.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

The absence of social or political context makes it difficult to judge the veracity of what we're told.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Newcomers Cobos and Buzzurro both acquit themselves admirably given that they effectively have to carry the film with no prior experience.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Newcomers Cobos and Buzzurro both acquit themselves admirably given that they effectively have to carry the film with no prior experience.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Kim Longinotto's documentary about the Tamil poet Salma burns with both indignation and a profound melancholy.

~ Rebecca Naughten -

Kim Longinotto's documentary about the Tamil poet Salma burns with both indignation and a profound melancholy.

~ Rebecca Naughten -