I had a lot of fun watching Sentimental (The People Upstairs) the new film by Cesc Gay , adaptation of his own play. The film stars Javier Cámara , Griselda Siciliani , Belén Cuesta and Alberto San Juan.

The last film by Spanish filmmaker Cesc Gay I had seen was Truman, six years ago. Truman was at the time one of the director's best films. I loved it and the specialized critics also wrote very positive reviews.

It is the story of Julián and Tomás, two great friends, who meet again after many years, because Tomás is sick with cancer and has decided to leave everything in order before his departure, including who will take care of his beloved pet, the dog named Truman. The film received a lot of nominations and awards, including that year's Goya for Best Film, Best Actor (the fabulous Ricardo Darín) and Best Director. And I was captivated by this beautiful and sad story.

Last night, looking through the catalogs of movies to watch, I came across the filmmaker's new film. Written and directed by him, based on his first play, called "Los Vecinos de Arriba" (Els veins de dalt in Catalan) which premiered in 2015 and was for two years being presented in important Theaters in Madrid. I know that he is a fabulous director of actors and I immediately set out to enjoy this film.

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What is the plot of Sentimental (The People Upstairs)?

Julio is a musician who now works teaching, he has been married for fifteen years with Ana, they have a little daughter, but their relationship is in a bad moment, they hardly talk to each other, they haven't had sex for a year and the few times they communicate is to fight and argue. One night, Julio finds himself with a surprise, Ana has invited the upstairs neighbors to spend an evening, drinking wine and eating with them. Juan is a very bitter man, everything bothers him and he thinks it is a bad idea, besides the upstairs neighbors are somewhat strange, they are younger and in the constant nights of passion, they make too much noise. After a heated argument, Ana is about to cancel the evening, but the neighbors, Salva, who is a fireman and Laura, a psychologist, ring the doorbell of the house. Upon meeting each other, Salva and Laura make a surprising proposal to Julio and Ana. Are they ready for it? What will their reaction be? How will the night end?

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Four characters, a single location and the interactions between them. Being based on a play, it seems that the staging is meant to be enjoyed on stage. But the filmmaker is an expert in directing actors. It is they, with the hilarious and timely dialogue that will make our experience watching the film, very enjoyable.

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I have seen many films based on plays whose result is very uneven, but in this case, it is the opposite, no matter that there are only four characters and that all the action takes place inside Julio and Ana's apartment. It will be impossible not to be captivated by this agile rhythm and dialogues that will make us laugh.

Julio's character, with all the repressed rage that uses sarcastic phrases to vent all his frustration, is the one who provides the most hilarious moments, while talking to his neighbors. He didn't want to have dinner with them, he just wanted to finish grading some of his students' exams and then go up to the roof to look at the stars through the telescope while smoking a cigarette.

That's what Julio's life translates into, teach classes, go home to look at the stars, smoke and then go to sleep. But the upstairs neighbors seem to have a very active sex life and he constantly wakes them up by the intense noise they make.

His wife, Ana, is also suffering from the loss of love after so many years together. Dedicated to housework, she is with a man who no longer looks at her, touches her or speaks a word of love to her.

Both, in fact, seem to be a little envious of the neighbors, who are so happy together, and who, by the noises they make, seem to enjoy their relationship to the fullest.

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This neighbors' meeting will take a hilarious turn when Salva and Laura come clean with them and make them an incredible proposal. It is at that moment where everything becomes funnier, but also more dramatic.

Salva is a man who says things directly, he is sincere and clear. Laura is a psychologist and likes to keep a little calm, trying to make the neighbors understand them, in a more digestible way.

The dramatic intensity increases and soon the meeting becomes a moment of catharsis for the four couples, but especially for Julio and Ana, who are the ones who really have problems to solve in their marriage.

A comedy that touches on important points about marriage, tolerance, respect, coexistence and love. Frequent themes in the filmmaker's filmography.

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The film has been well received and has received nominations for important Spanish film awards. It has five nominations for this year's Goya Awards, including Best Film and Best Actor. It also has eight Gaudí Award nominations, including Best Film in a non-Catalan language. At the Forqué Awards it received a nomination for Best Actor and at the Feroz Awards it received nominations for Best Comedy, Director, Actor and Supporting Actor.

Being a film in which the dialogues are non-stop and the actors are in constant interaction with each other, those in charge of playing the characters have done an impeccable job. All four are really fabulous.

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Javier Cámara plays Julio, the musician who is now a caseworker, feeling frustrated, sad and bitter. After five years of marriage, he can't seem to remember what it was like to feel love or passion. He is tired of his pathetic life, he just wants to go up with his telescope to look at the stars, and also other things, which we will discover in the story.

Totally deserved the nominations to the different awards that the actor has. He is one of the great Spanish actors of today. He is 54 years old, and throughout his career he has ventured into all genres, both in film and television. The film in which Javier Cámara acted, is a film that is always worth watching. In television, I recommend watching the series Vota Juan and the second season called Vamos Juan. A fantastic comedy that I reviewed some time ago.

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Griselda Siciliani plays Ana, Julio's wife, who in the frustration of having a gray life, in a marriage that seems lost, those noises made by the upstairs neighbors seem to give excitement to her boring life. She will open up more to the proposal and when she is home alone, she walks around the house naked, so that her neighbor can see her through the window.

The actress does very well, I did not know this actress, she is Argentinean and her career includes participation in many telenovelas in her country. Among them, the successful telenovela Patito Feo. I have not seen any of her previous works, but now I will keep an eye out in case she decides to continue making movies in Spain or Argentina.

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Belén Cuesta plays Laura, the psychologist neighbor, who ends up acting as a therapist for her neighbors' marital problems. A liberal-minded woman, very funny and who, like Salva, expresses the desire she has had for a long time to make them this proposal, and who knows that Julio looks at her with desire in the elevator.

The actress was the winner of the Goya award last year, as best actress for the film La trinchera Infinita. She has a long career in Spanish cinema, where she has worked with great directors and has experience in comedy. If you are a fan of the series La Casa de Papel, you will recognize her as the transsexual character who appears as another of the robbers in the last seasons.

Alberto San Juan plays Salva, the fireman and Laura's partner. The neighbor who says things without thinking, gets straight to the facts and is always in a good mood, he is the complete opposite of Julio. He is very excited to make the incredible proposal to his dear neighbors.

The actor is another Goya winner, which he won in 2007 for the film Bajo las estrellas. He is currently 52 years old and his career is extensive, like that of his co-stars. A few days ago I reviewed Loco por ella, a film in which he plays a small character, and I forgot to mention him. Another great actor who completes a luxury cast for this fun movie.

Sentimental is a very funny movie, which deals with the crisis that marriages suffer after many years of being together. Hilarious situations, excellent actors, whose dialogues keep us up to date with everything that happens in the story.

If you like this kind of comedies, mixed with drama and themes to reflect, this movie is excellent for you.

I hope you find it in the streaming platform you use, remember that the title in English is The People Upstairs, and when you watch it, leave in the comments your opinion about the movie.

My Ranking: 3.8/5