A drama well played by prestigious actors who would continue to develop prolific careers, concerning an office man tries to get a smoking room approved at the company he works at. The branch of an American company is forced by a change in statutes to put into effect the prohibition of smoking inside its offices, so those who want to smoke during work hours will have to do so on the street. Ramirez, one of the employees attempts to pick up some signatures to prevent office workers from having to smoke in the streets or in the attic on the roof of the building. This small office, made up mainly of men, decides to start collecting signatures to ask management to open an office as a smoking room. While there is initial support from other employees, many end up backing out and then change their opinions fearing how the company should act. Apparently everyone agrees and in principle they are going to support him. However, when push comes to shove, colleagues will make all kinds of excuses to avoid signing, since almost everyone has something to hide and does not want any discomfort to the office chiefs. This world of petty intrigues will just explode and produce potential victims.
The film follows the Scandinavian "dogma" style that when this 'Smoking Room' was made was at its zenith. And being loosely based on the British, BBC series: The Smoking Room (2004-2005). A minimum budget film to build an acceptable story that results to be extremely talky. But nothing really happens for the hour and a half of the film, which will greatly bore the general public. Furthermore, the camera movements can be some dizzying which may cause some a bit of a headache. Dealing with a simple topic like the request for a smoking room takes you to see the inside of people is worthy of a certain praise. And this work is that cigar that feels good when you smoke it but does not have the neccesary intensity and nuances of an essential quality. Critics unanimously supported the successes of this risky production about the world of work, this is the realization of two young and independent directors who brought rise and freshness to Spanish cinema at the beginning of 2000.
The Argentinian Julio D. Wallovits and the Spanish Roger Gual joined forces in their first feature film, shot in digital video format and later transferred to 35 mm. After its presentation at the Málaga film festival, where it won awards for best script and best male performance, for the group of actors and it ended up winning the Goya award for best novel direction. Here a number of competent actors stood out, most of them already had prolific and notorious careers and would continue to develop other notable roles. The ensemble of leading actors is one of the most complete in recent years and the performances are at the limit that critics and audiences consider masterful. Led by Eduard Fernandez (¨Fausto 5.0¨, ¨El Embrujo de Shanghai¨, ¨El Niño¨, ¨Mediterraneo¨), it also has veteran Juan Diego (Padre Courage¨, ¨Los hombres de Paco¨), Frances Orella (¨Durante la tormenta¨, ¨A contratiempo¨), Antonio Dechent (¨Intacto¨, ¨Fugitivas¨), the Argentine Ulises Dumont (¨Morir en San Hilario¨, ¨La Herencia¨) , Manuel Morón (El Bola, Salvajes), Frances Garrido (¨Clara and Elena¨, ¨Mar Adentro¨, ¨4 latas¨), Chele Lara (¨Abre los ojos¨, ¨Alchemist impatient¨), Vicky Peña (¨Libertad¨¨ , ¨Secretos del Corazón¨), Pep Molina (El silencio del pantano¨, ¨Los misterios de Laura¨) , and uncredited Jordi Dauer, Alberto Jiménez, among others. Rating: 5.5/10. Passable and acceptable film but neither notable, nor extraodinary ,but just decent.
The film follows the Scandinavian "dogma" style that when this 'Smoking Room' was made was at its zenith. And being loosely based on the British, BBC series: The Smoking Room (2004-2005). A minimum budget film to build an acceptable story that results to be extremely talky. But nothing really happens for the hour and a half of the film, which will greatly bore the general public. Furthermore, the camera movements can be some dizzying which may cause some a bit of a headache. Dealing with a simple topic like the request for a smoking room takes you to see the inside of people is worthy of a certain praise. And this work is that cigar that feels good when you smoke it but does not have the neccesary intensity and nuances of an essential quality. Critics unanimously supported the successes of this risky production about the world of work, this is the realization of two young and independent directors who brought rise and freshness to Spanish cinema at the beginning of 2000.
The Argentinian Julio D. Wallovits and the Spanish Roger Gual joined forces in their first feature film, shot in digital video format and later transferred to 35 mm. After its presentation at the Málaga film festival, where it won awards for best script and best male performance, for the group of actors and it ended up winning the Goya award for best novel direction. Here a number of competent actors stood out, most of them already had prolific and notorious careers and would continue to develop other notable roles. The ensemble of leading actors is one of the most complete in recent years and the performances are at the limit that critics and audiences consider masterful. Led by Eduard Fernandez (¨Fausto 5.0¨, ¨El Embrujo de Shanghai¨, ¨El Niño¨, ¨Mediterraneo¨), it also has veteran Juan Diego (Padre Courage¨, ¨Los hombres de Paco¨), Frances Orella (¨Durante la tormenta¨, ¨A contratiempo¨), Antonio Dechent (¨Intacto¨, ¨Fugitivas¨), the Argentine Ulises Dumont (¨Morir en San Hilario¨, ¨La Herencia¨) , Manuel Morón (El Bola, Salvajes), Frances Garrido (¨Clara and Elena¨, ¨Mar Adentro¨, ¨4 latas¨), Chele Lara (¨Abre los ojos¨, ¨Alchemist impatient¨), Vicky Peña (¨Libertad¨¨ , ¨Secretos del Corazón¨), Pep Molina (El silencio del pantano¨, ¨Los misterios de Laura¨) , and uncredited Jordi Dauer, Alberto Jiménez, among others. Rating: 5.5/10. Passable and acceptable film but neither notable, nor extraodinary ,but just decent.