Superb performances by seasoned actors of a well written and believable script. The direction gives a feeling of truth to the story as it unfolds and prevents the film from falling into clichés or melodrama.
The story follows the complicated relationship between two couples. Two spouses meet in a hospital waiting room while their respective significant others are being treated. The `others' become friends while enduring a rehab program and their spouses become something more during that time.
It rains too much during the film, as the action takes place in Madrid and it certainly does not rain as often or as constantly here as it might seem from the fact that all of the major scenes happen during rain showers. However, the only real problems are that the development of the relationships between the characters sometimes seems to be glossed over when it might have been aided by additional scenes. Also, the ending seems too sudden or banal given the dramatic act that Chus carries out, despite the fact that it is foreseeable.
I suppose that this film did not last longer in the box office because it deals with themes that are difficult for Spanish audiences to stomach when they are not treated in a comedic way (overcoming depression, drug addiction, adultery, intrusive parents). Nonetheless, it is also a breakthrough for Spanish film and hopefully an indicator of what may be to come.
