Director: Fernando Leon de Aranoa
Starring: Javier Bardem, Manolo Solo, Almudena Amor, Oscar de la Fuente, Sonia Almarcha, Tarik Rmili, Celso Bugallo
Distributor: Sharmill Films
Runtime: 98 mins. Reviewed in May 2022
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc

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Rating notes: Mature themes, sex, coarse language, violence and nudity

Eight days in the life of a Spanish factory making scales. The spirit of enterprise, the leadership of a good boss, the solving of problems – but under the charm and management, determination and some ruthlessness.

Of course by the end of this drama, with its touches of ironic humour, we are in a better position to comment on what a good boss can be like.

The setting for this Spanish story is a factory which produces all kinds of scales. The CEO, Blanco (Bardem) inherited the company from his father. The factory is expecting a visit from a local committee because it is a strong candidate for an industry award. Another for a large wall already studded with plaques.

The success of the film and the enticement for its audience is the presence and performance of Bardem. He has an inherent charm. But, even with the charm, we see that he is a strong and determined character, and touches of ruthlessness emerge. We see him with his employees, being genial and urging them on. But there are numerous problems.

The film highlights life in the factory over eight days. The factory seems to be running well – production, contracts, international deals, trucking equipment… However, the smooth running is marred by the response of an accountant who has been fired. He brings his young children to the factory to protest his firing, denouncing Blanco. And, then, he sets up a protest camp on public ground opposite the entry to the factory with placards, a bullhorn and denunciations of Blanco every time he arrives or leaves. The protester is not entirely a sympathetic character, even when he brings his children to demonstrate with him, but his situation raises issues of justice when it comes to hiring and firing and social consequences.

As the week progresses, more problems needing to be solved occur. A long-time associate is becoming paranoid about his wife’s behaviour, even getting Blanco to sit vigil in the car outside the house where his wife has been tracked. And the repercussions on the mental health of the employee, the consequences of bad decisions and disruptions are also highlighted. But, Blanco seems to take these episodes in his stride, listening, talking, attempting to smooth things over.

There are a number of episodes like this throughout the film, an old employee has a son who mixes with a group of anti-Arab youths, bashing the locals, Blanco getting him out of police custody. And there is a new young intern who reminds us that Blanco also has a roving eye, despite his home life and happy marriage. It is a flirtation and more that eventually will blow up in his face.

By the end of the week, the seemingly good boss with his charm is revealed as more determined and ruthless than we might initially have thought, but always able to maintain the charm.

So, a drama about the workplace, social justice, capitalism, consequences, along with the personal dramas that haunt the good boss.