in Biutiful, the latest film by Academy Award-nominated director Alejandro González Iñárritu (Babel, Amores Perros).
A father of two, Uxbal lives on the fringes of Barcelona trying to make ends meet. He business dealings are shady,
and the company that he keeps, including his sleazy brother and bipolar ex-wife, is no better. Following the discovery
that he may not be able to care for his children much longer, Uxbal leads us on a journey down the uncertain road of
human existence, determined to find redemption and secure the fate of his children--even as his own is sealed.
nature that traces the cycle of life from man to
animal to vegetable to mineral. The story begins
with an elderly shepherd who uses the dust from
a church floor to treat his cough. Next, it follows
a baby goat as it leaves its flock and tentatively
ventures out to pasture. A majestic fir becomes
the centerpiece of a village celebration, and
finally, its logs are transformed into a massive
pile of charcoal. This magical film follows the
transformations in very concrete fashion, yet
allows for mystery, metaphor, and abstraction.