For 80 days -- 80 egunean (original title)

 IMDB rated this film a 7.5! Click!

Director:
Jon Garaño, José María Goenaga
Writers:
Jon Garaño (screenplay), José María Goenaga (screenplay)
Stars:
Itziar Aizpuru (Axun), José Ramón Argoitia (Juan Mari), Mariasun Pagoaga (Maite)

Country&language:
Spanish& Basque

Plot

Axun is a seventy-year old woman living in the Spanish countryside with her husband Juan Mari (Argoitia). It seems as if she is happy with the simple traditional life she is living. Then one day the news hits her that the ex-husband of her daughter, who lives in the US, was in an accident.  The man seems to be more dead than alive. Axun asks her daughter whether she wants to visit her ex-husband, but she clearly doesn't. She obviously has her reasons for doing so. Axun, however, feels sorry for the man and decides to visit him, even though their relationship never was that close. When she arrives at the hospital the next day she meets her best friend from secondary school, Maite. The two girls met in a repressive time that never allowed their relationship to go beyond friendship. The flashbacks of that period clearly show the chemistry to two girls shared. Eventually their paths led them apart. Axun got married and Maite, led a vivid, and travelled the world before she became an established piano teacher. She never got married as she was certain about her sexual orientation. At first they don't recognise each other after fifty years, and Axun even thinks that Maite is acting inappropriate during Axun's daily visits.  Feelings of coldness soon turn to feelings of affection, as long-suppressed feelings begin to emerge. This embarks a new phase in life for Axun. Maite is very open about her feelings towards Axun, making Axun insecure; doubting her own feelings. As a traditional woman she struggles terribly trying to figure out her feelings she has for Maite. How will this affect her marriage and her once so stable life??

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Personal opinion
I don't what it is with foreign, and Spanish in particular, films and their ability to touch me so deeply. It's a small and intimite film, just how I like it. ^_^ The film feels complete and so do the dialogues. The intense friendship between Maite and Axun is very believable. Especially Mariasun Pagoaga had an incredible effect on my empathy and respect. I was shocked to find out that for 80 days was her acting debut!! The intense love, passion and strength reflected in her eyes soften my heart. I nearly cried every time she had that trusting look in her eyes! :c  I also found myself almost dying and screaming at the screen, when Axun acted so indecisive, spoiling their friendship and intense love. :(

Why you would love/hate this film
This is definitely not a film for people that think action is a must in films. For these people it may come across as slow and dreary. It's also a foreign film, and people might not like, SHUN THEM, non-English films; complaining they don't want to read. Reading never made anyone less intelligent, now did it? :brow People who think this way are not worth this film. Don't watch it if you don't like seventy-year olds dealing with lesbian love issues. And perhaps if you suffer from bi-polar-y issues, I may advise you to stay away from it, as they film definitely deals with highs and lows in friendships. You may find yourself disappointed.

If you love foreign arthouse films, about friendship, journeys in self-knowledge, and a little bit of drama; this is the film for you! :tup