This Basque production from 1996 is a vivid, realistic story of the life of one of many immigrants trying to rebuild their lives in Western Europe. Bilbao is one of Spain's great cities, financially, culturally and especially industrially. The relative availability of factory jobs lures many illegal immigrants, particularly Eastern Europeans (Poles, Ukrainians and former Yugoslavs), whose appearance makes it easier to blend in, and go about undiscovered. In MENOS QUE CERO, Zarko (played by Roman Luknar, a real-life emigre' legally living in Spain, and who has appeared in several films as a foreigner)casually meets a pleasant woman photographer. Under normal circumstances, the two could have pursued a happy relationship. But his illegal status makes this impossible. In spite of his new girlfriend's best efforts, the established underworld, involving corruption and blackmail, make their chances to make this relationship work, less than zero.
Review of Menos que cero
