You do not change a winning team:Dirk Bogarde and the young Whiteley shone in Crichton's "hunted" a harrowing work you should absolutely see if you have not.
"The Spanish gardener" is perhaps not as successful artistically and after the trick of the watch ,the movie becomes a bit "too much" ,turning José into a martyr and dad as a monster of selfishness and hatred ,although it was watered down,compared to the novel (the scenes with the so-called shrink were omitted and José survives,to make the movie "suitable for all audiences")
But "the Spanish gardener " is a very endearing work,very simple,and it's this simplicity ,this spontaneity ,we are so in need today;although Bogarde is made up to look "Spanish" -he who is British to the core-,his talent marvelously survives.The young boy is equally efficient and when we share their simple pleasures of life,we are overjoyed;the father is not really bad,but he poisons his child with affection and protection ("Nicco" has a medical exam every week it seems) and the kid stands no chance to open up :an "illiterate" (not true by the way ;the gardener speaks (no accent)and writes English,which is a bit implausible)crude working man teaches a diplomat's son the outside world ,they go fishing ,they meet children with whom the brat plays cards :not only his child is "stolen" but it is by an uneducated man ,not from the high society he is part of;the father's hate knows no bounds.
This moving movie is suitable for the whole family;it shows that a simple man can see clearer than a well-respected one,that humble people are sometimes happier ,and moreover,they can help their fellow men in their pursuit of happiness ;José told us so :"he is not happy".
like this ....try these......
Charles Crichton "hunted"(1952)
Luigi Comencini 'Incompreso'(1967) and 'Voltati Eugenio"(1979)
"The Spanish gardener" is perhaps not as successful artistically and after the trick of the watch ,the movie becomes a bit "too much" ,turning José into a martyr and dad as a monster of selfishness and hatred ,although it was watered down,compared to the novel (the scenes with the so-called shrink were omitted and José survives,to make the movie "suitable for all audiences")
But "the Spanish gardener " is a very endearing work,very simple,and it's this simplicity ,this spontaneity ,we are so in need today;although Bogarde is made up to look "Spanish" -he who is British to the core-,his talent marvelously survives.The young boy is equally efficient and when we share their simple pleasures of life,we are overjoyed;the father is not really bad,but he poisons his child with affection and protection ("Nicco" has a medical exam every week it seems) and the kid stands no chance to open up :an "illiterate" (not true by the way ;the gardener speaks (no accent)and writes English,which is a bit implausible)crude working man teaches a diplomat's son the outside world ,they go fishing ,they meet children with whom the brat plays cards :not only his child is "stolen" but it is by an uneducated man ,not from the high society he is part of;the father's hate knows no bounds.
This moving movie is suitable for the whole family;it shows that a simple man can see clearer than a well-respected one,that humble people are sometimes happier ,and moreover,they can help their fellow men in their pursuit of happiness ;José told us so :"he is not happy".
like this ....try these......
Charles Crichton "hunted"(1952)
Luigi Comencini 'Incompreso'(1967) and 'Voltati Eugenio"(1979)