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Reviews
Before We Say Goodbye (2010)
A Hispanic "It's A Wonderful Life"
There are few very good movies that take us into the Hispanic-American world of the American Southwest. One of them is Robert Redford's The Milagro Beanfield War and a second is the newly completed Before We Say Goodbye, directed by Paul Davids. The latter movie is less fanciful then Redford's, and more deeply touching. It takes us into the life of a real family in Albuquerque building atmosphere and situation and character slowly so that we get to know and care about these people. The film is full of laughs, but also deep sadness. One takes away a detailed and nuanced sense of the interior life of a Catholic Hispanic family with all its complexity. There are true-believing Catholics, lukewarm believers, and even one atheist. Problems range from soap-opera-ish extramarital affairs to academic career problems in archaeological research. The camera work masterfully takes you inside the homes of these people. It lets you feel their humble warmth and particular visual flavor. This is a movie that can be watched repeatedly and enjoyed more every time, much as can Redford's Milagro Beanfield War. This is the best sign of a great movie. One is reminded of It's A Wonderful Life. But in this case it's a Hispanic life. This movie places a new gem in the crown of typically American cinema.