Social matters are always a juicy source for screenplays. And unemployment is a theme not new to the movies that deal with actual situations. Here, the hard spanish reality of men with no jobs is at hand, but instead of giving a rough depiction of people struggling for life, the director opts for a more soft approach, and wisely does so, since the movie would be too much of a punch in the stomach. Javier Bardem leads the ensemble cast, but don't let his notoriety fool you - although he is a commanding figure (and also a much needed source of comic relief) the other actors are also a must, and the film finds the best everyday men in these artists, who impersonate such a wide spectrum of people that you'll always find a reason to identify yourself with them. Always rough but tender, always touching but funny, always real but full of dreams, its message is clear - the facts that happen throughout this picture are only a small sample of an overwhelming reality. Thus, two thumbs up.
Review of Mondays in the Sun
