“Good behavior”, social criticism without waving a banner

In his 2018 independent feature with the film My dear brotherhoodalso co-screenwriter Marta Díaz (graduated from the High School of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts of Catalonia, Escac) already highlighted ways, in a peculiar mixture of costumbrism, crazy humor, serials and something else. She signed a work very focused on the female universe, a space in which she now returns with almost the same team — in large part formed together with her — consisting of actresses Gloria Muñoz and Carmen Flores at the head of the cast. This natural person shows her excellent self-confidence.

The initial uncertainties that arose then develop for the better, although a certain reluctance to speed up the plays, be they comedic or dramatic, is maintained in some form fent of restraint prudent. Díaz tries to avoid vices sitcom television in terms of rhythm and camera, but at times the characters seem to step out of the series as Aida or Nobody lives here. At the same time, it is planned as a desire to get closer to the uncloned universe of Almodovari, while Díaz and his co-writer Zebina Guerra have more than enough potential to do it on their own.

It would be simple adjust the seams, balance the characters and round out the script. Here, in writing, lies the main objection. We are told that the sisters stopped talking because of something serious that happened between them, but as soon as some clues surface, we almost sense where we are going and at that moment the plot loses its power, even admitting that the drawing of both women flows convincingly up to that circumstance , because they are like night and day both in their attitudes and in their body language.

A good idea is to include two children who are unaware of the conflicts of their adults, who bring a dose of reason with their innocence and lack of prejudice. However, both creatures required more development, as happens with their parents, which is in some cases they remain on the border of caricature.

They charge their batteries knowing that a new generation of authors is emerging who are dedicated to approaching genre cinema with a transversal perspective, without giving up on telling an understandable story. IN Good manners the title itself announces where it wants to go beyond, but, in addition to the plot, it also provides interesting notes of social criticism without waving a banner. Good.

“GOOD MANNERS”

• Spain, 2023.
• Director: Marta Diaz.
• Performers: Elena Irureta, Gloria Muñoz, Carmen Flores, Pepa Aniorte, Inma Cuesta, Bárbara Santa-Cruz, Neus Sanz, Richard Farré, Rafaela Rivas.
• Comedy.
• 91 minutes.