User reviews

Nice film well shot in Galicia in northern Spain . In the seventies local Mafia carried out tobacco smuggling ; however this activity disappeared and in the eighties the old power has been overspread into drug trafficking . This story deals with a brave woman called Pilar (Adriana Ozores) and her friend Fina (Maria Bouzas) fight against the drug-dealers denouncing publicly who they were illicitly profiting themselves , in fact , by that time the benefits of illegal traffic were uncountable .

This is a thought-provoking denounce-drama with emotion , routine plot , family relationship and a little bit of suspense when the starring is threatened but also contains too much dialogue and many other things . It packs an uneven plot that relies heavily on the relationship among protagonist Adriana Ozores , his husband , Carlos Blanco , and her three sons , especially Fito , finely played by Javier Pereira . The picture gives a deserved tribute to all those brave people and especially mothers that challenged drug-dealers who dealt in drugs there in the 80's decade and putting their own existences in danger . The main problem has to face , beyond not being able to avoid falling into a little interesting intrigue , it is derived from the coldness of its staging , excessive dialog and some slow-moving scenes . Because the story needs a vibration more real than the one offered in this sometimes dull as well as sad flick , though also develops enjoyable moments as when the ¨Mother Coraje¨ and her friend Fina enter in prison and are happily greeted by the other inmates . Anyway, it's is compensated with an adequate cinematography by Alfredo Mayo including spotless pictorial images and a willingness , almost perfect of the elements of each shot , every sequence , every space . Shot on north of Spain, on location in Betanzos, Muros , A Coruña , Galicia, Spain . Furthermore ,an atmospheric and appropriate musical score by the notorious Lucio Gody , a prolific composer who has composed excellent soundtracks such as ¨Blackthorn¨, ¨All about my mother¨ , ¨Fin¨ , ¨Lunes Al Sol¨, ¨Amador¨, ¨Aura¨ and deemed to be one of the best Spanish musicians .

The motion picture was professionally directed , though without enthusiasm , by Gerardo Herrero . Gerardo is a famous producer as well as filmmaker . He was President of the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (1994-1994) . Great producer of big hits , being especially known for The Secret of your ears (2009), Sin Retorno (2010) , Balada Triste de Trompeta (2010) , Crimenes De Oxford (2008) and El Hijo De La Novia (2001). He also directed some good films such as ¨Silencio En Nieve¨ , ¨Corredor Nocturno¨ , ¨Principio Arquímedes¨ , ¨Crimen Galindez¨ , ¨Frontera Sur¨, ¨Territorio Comanche¨ , ¨Desvio a Paraíso¨ , ¨Al Acecho¨ and this ¨Heroína¨ .

This little movie is worth seeing if interested on grass-roots movements to get something done about people real problems.

It is based on a true story about a handful of mothers with drug-addicted sons who fought not only to improve their lives but also fought against the drug-dealers denouncing publicly who they were in the context of late eighties Galicia where the benefits of illegal traffic were legendary.

Adriana Ozores carries the weight of the film as the lead rebellious mother. Pity is this Ken Loachesque offering by Gerardo Herrero is somewhat confusing trying to be epic at times when in reality everything was really sordid. If realism is not enough for a full length-feature film, maybe shooting the same real story as a documentary would have been really something.

The true story of a group of Galician women with heroin-addicted sons that began a brave fight against the "narcos" who dealt in drugs there in northern Spain, in the 80's decade. "Heroína" (Heroine) is a different view of the drugs world from the one we're used to: this time the drug-addicts and the spiral of disaster they create around them are not the protagonists. The protagonists are their brothers, their fathers, and, overall, their mothers. That's the point the movie emphasizes the most. We're barely told about the judicial proceedings that were taken against all those narcos (the more of them ended up in prison).

Let's put something clear: Gerardo Herrero is not exactly one of my favorite directors. I don't think any of his movies are worthwhile. His work have always serious troubles to look credible, no matter what genre he gets involved in (and he's got involved in some different genres). He's not elegant, he hasn't many skills, and there's a lack of originality in most of his works. This time, in his travel through the world of the social cinema he demonstrates he's not Ken Loach, nor even Fernando León De Aranoa. "Heroína" is a correct film, and a necessary tribute to all those brave mothers that challenged those drug-dealers putting their own lives in risk. As for the movie itself, the rhythm is rather uneven, the dramatic tension disappears in some moments because of the bad work of the youngest actors and the bad editing. Also, the way the movie ends causes the feeling of having watched an unfinished product.

Nevertheless, Herrero had the best hidden trick: Adriana Ozores. Adriana's capability to create characters is just astonishing, and his talent gets bigger and bigger as the years pass by. She's so good that his work clashes with the younger actors' so much. She deserves all the prizes in the world (but we all know prizes has nothing to be with real talent).

That's all...by now.

*My rate: 6/10