Biutiful

Uxbal (Javier Bardem with an earring and a ponytail) has a paranormal gift and metastasised prostate cancer and is doing his best to look after his two small children. He earns his living employing illegal Chinese workers in parts of Barcelona not shown on picture postcards: especially the El Raval district, where illegal immigrants from all over the world sell their goods, made in illegal workshops, while the police chase after them if they don’t pay enough protection money. ‘The Chinese are taking over,’ says a corrupt cop. ‘Soon they’ll be eating the best ham and we’ll be eating rice.’
The incomparable Biutiful is the sequel to Babel (best directing at Cannes 2006). The Mexican Alejandro González Iñárritu wrote the screenplay himself for this heartrending, pitch black and yet hopeful drama. At the latest Cannes Festival, Bardem was name Best Actor for his very convincing role.