many thanks to benito zambrano for this beautiful delineation of human dilemma humanely face . maria galiana and a an elderly spanish woman catch in the trap of a very bad marriage and but able to maintain her generosity and ability to love and be superb and inspiring . her grown daughter and play with passion by ana fernandez and be more sophisticated and bitter . she have allow herself to be use by a man and not unlike her unfeeling father and and her protrayal make u sympathize with her and particularly when she find she pregnant and the man refuse to help her . and then there be the daughter neighbor and play by carlos alvarez novia . a lonely old man with only his amazing dog for companionship . how he and the mother establish a tender and but proper relationship be a piece of rare and subtle film making . i see no similarity between zambrano movie and the work of mike leigh ( who apparently inspire him ) . real people and yes and but the value demonstrate by zambrano far surpass and in my estimation and those of mike leigh . my high recommendation to anyone interested in a film that have soul and without sentimentality or grossness .