This is interesting and watchable. It follows three story lines that loosely overlap. This may, however, be the major problem, in that the stories are not really linked strongly; so it's like watching three 30 minute movies all jumbled together. The weakest of these plots pertains to the border crossing guards who are alleged to have used excessive force; this story line is not well-developed and does not seem to warrant its own trail. So you've got (a) boy fleeing from killers, (b) father-daughter tension, and (c) police coverup, all meshed together. But acting is good, scenery good; and enjoyable movie.
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johnral32116 July 2020
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A Spanish drama. Spectacular Quality It is about a boy who seeks to leave Africa for witnessing a moment of illegal hunting and how his family is attacked by this situation, in fact it shows the success in being able to reach Europe, although he has two other stories that indirectly contribute to the plot. Adú's is the central one. He talks about the odyssey that migrants live and everything they have to suffer to try to achieve a better life. Raw Current. Moustapha Oumarou's performance is extraordinary. It is spoken in Spanish, English, French and dialects. With emotional moments and other heartbreaking ones. Did you read "We are all displaced" from Malala Yousafzai? Well this easy one can be one of many immigrant stories that the book handles. The only problem with the film is that two or three special effects are not entirely achieved.
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williams-amber3 July 2020The film was called Adú, but there didn't seem to be enough of Adú nor his story in it. Every last child actor was a PHENOMENAL talent. His story was the most gripping and captivating and could have carried the film entirely on its own. Yet Adú's story seemed to play second fiddle to the other two storylines and their more first world trivial problems, likely believing that the public would not show up to watch a film starring Africans as the main cast. The other storylines their importance... but not in this film. There was no clear purpose to why or how the 3 stories finally meet in the finale. In the end everyone else gets their happy-ish ending BUT Adú. This film would have been an Oscar contender if they had focused entirely on Adú and the characters surrounding him on his journey.
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apollon-1726213 February 2021Acting and photography are really good. Plot ruins everything. There are three stories. The main story of young Adu and his hardships on his quest to reach Spain as an immigrant. The second one is wicker but relevant. It's the story of three officers who face a trail for killing an immigrant at the Spanish borders. The third one is totally irrelevant. This is about an estranged father and his daughter and their attempt to reconcile and healold wounds. The plot fails to explain the connection between these three stories. The ending will disappoint. Not because it isn't a happy one but because it lacks meaning. You just don't get it. Some parts may be disturbing. Be warned. I gave this one 7 stars for acting (Adam Nourou is excellent) and for picture/photography. Direction could have been better at times.
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samde-5179512 July 2020Watched this movie with no expectation, story is a little bit weird though, one story about a 7year old boy trekking through Africa trying to call home, other is a father who is trying to raise a daughter, overall amazing scenery, good acting, and good morals, but not really wow
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fregenold5 July 2020I think 2020 will be remembered as the year in which "Adu" was released. I've been watching movies for almost 90 years. "Adu" is one of the best movies I've ever seen, and the seven-year-old boy who plays the title role is terrific... and before he was picked to portray this character, he didn't even know what a movie was... and didn't know how to read or write. Extraordinary! Please search engine his name, Moustapha Oumarou, and read about how he was discovered. Amazing.
One of the best directors I've worked with told us before rehearsals started, "Don't act. Forget about acting. I want you to behave." To the credit of Salvador Calvo who directed "Adu," that's exactly what the actors in his movie do: behave. There's no acting; it's real. This movie is what movie making is all about. I'll cut to the main point. In every award category for which a feature film qualifies, except "Actress in a Leading Role," this movie, "Adu," should win awards. And that's simply because there isn't a leading actress role in the movie. Anna Castillo should win for her supporting actress role, and either Luis Tosar or Adam Nourou should win for their supporting actor roles. Should be a tie so they can both win. And guess who should win for "Actor in a Leading Role?" You got it. The then 7-year-old Moustapha Oumarou. He owns the part. He owns the movie. It's his movie. He behaves in every scene he's in. And every other qualifying category should be won by "Adu," especially, Best Picture and Best Director.
I won't compare "Adu" with this year's South Korean winner because they can't be compared. "Adu" is in a class all alone. And we're talking about cinematography, screenplay, production design, costume design, sound editing, sound mixing, film editing. The director is god of a movie, and Salvador Calvo is the god of this movie... and should be recognized for his talent at coming award ceremonies. -
chrispule24 January 2021Beautiful Film about a boy Adu. We get a glimpse of the ordeal these refugees have to go through in their suffering to past that fence for freedom.
The 3 seperate stories all intertwined nicely. From views behind & to the gate.So many universal themes in this Film from healing, forgiveness, compassion & sacrifice.
Although it had some flaws. I can easily forgive and truly appreciate this Directors work to spread the message of hope for these Refugees. -
I can't believe how this movie had this rate. It's one of the best movies I ever seen. And it's not only from it's technical achievements, which they are actualy top notch. But it's realism. People may think these are just fiction, but unfortunately they are not. I was a marine engineer years ago. We saw a lot of refugees on board. Some of them not older than Adu. We found an entire family in one container. They were already dead because of no air. All that horrible things hide my memory some how. I wasn't think about them till this night. And I watch Adu. My eyes doesn't stop tearing right now. How could I live with these until now, I just can't understand. When I look my baby girl, she sleeps peacefuly, because she knows she is safe and prosper. But she may be one of their child. I know this must used to be a movie crittic but it turned a terrapy session. That is how Adu made an affect on my emptions. I just want to share.
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SamuelGN17 September 2020A pretty shocking drama to watch. Despite being almost 2 hours long, Adú works most of the time.
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kosmasp26 August 2020Everyone wants a better life for themselves (and their loved ones). So seeing three stories with that common thread may be enticing or not to you. Obviously this is not something shiny and is more on the dramatic side. The acting is superb and the stories work well as standalones but also while we switch back and forth to and from them.
You may feel touched by what you see and it would make sense. Not everything about this is uplifting though but that is also how life is. And even if you succeeded in achieving one thing, the next goal, the next thing you want to get, the next step you want to take. Always be aware of where you are and where you're going. And while you may be the one responsible for your own fate, certain things may be outside of your reach. You can't control everything, you can just try to fight as hard as you can for what you love. You also can't erase or change the past (which a father has to learn the hard way with his daughter) ... so many things to unpack here, many things to cherish and maybe a few things to learn or keep in mind when making decision of your own ... -
latinfineart2 October 2020It is not common to find a film that has such power, such pathos, such an ability to get into your heart and soul. Many of us who lead very fortunate lives lose perspective on how many souls there on this planet who suffer on a daily basis, and are just simply looking for a decent lot in life.
This was a beautifully directed film with a great soundtrack, tremendous performances, especially the guys who played Adu and Mossar, and is really really worth watching. This movie tugs at your heart. Kudos to the entire crew, very, very well done! -
idonotexist26 April 2021It is rare at the end of a movie i want a happy ending. We get maybe 1/3 happy endings here of all the stories. A movie that you watch and you care enough by the end of it to have a position on what you want to happen to the characters is always a welcome addition to any watchlist.
The acting is good, story lines are believable and the music is fitting. Certainly some things could be more in depth but then again you can make a single movie out of any of the plot lines presented if you wish to stretch it all out.
For how much this covers in the span of the runtime, i recommend it. -
juanpablo-9118 July 2020Besides the emotive story of Adu, which wasn't exploited as well as it could, the connection with the other two stories is very forced, unnatural. The guard's part never gets to nothing, plays a very small role, it even could be avoided. The father and daughter's story is totally unnecessary.
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janberkteber21 January 2022Good movie but just this.
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RoshanHvt26 April 2021Emotional sensible story. The plot is good but jumbled. 3 paralleled stories but all messed. How ever watchable. Not waste of time coz people can understand another side of the world who has these kind of situations. Emotional.... specially on 2 boyz. Acting is superb..
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theshanecarr11 May 2021There are so many good parts to this movie that it's so disappointing that it doesn't quite hang together.
A film made up of three distinct strands which connect thematically, but which do so in such a narratively tangential way it left me unsatisfied.
The film makers know where the meat of their story is - after all they named the movie after him - little Adú and his sister set out to make their way across Africa to reach their father in Spain.
This is absolutely the heart of the film, and I would have gladly sacrificed the other two strands for more of Adú and his companions trek across countries. Having said that, it began to strain credulity that Adú and his companion were undergoing such hardship and ordeals and yet he could maintain such a happy, sunny disposition. Moustapha Oumarou is charming and beguiling in the role, and I understand the desire to keep his innocence intact to preserve sympathy but after all he goes through, for him not to have changed by the end is short-changing reality.
The second strand starts out super strong. A rich European works with locals to patrol a national park to prevent elephant poaching. He loves the animals but his lack of empathy with people makes him deeply unpopular with the Senegalese rangers, and, we learn, with his daughter who is visiting him. It has a lot to explore; the potentially misguided efforts of well-meaning Europeans intervening in Africa meeting the realities of the local culture and economy, but barely has it started before the focus switches to the man's relationship with his wild daughter. And that's fine, I guess, but it jettisons all the potential of the locale in favour of a fairly generic father/daughter communication gap. Gradually the focus shifts entirely to the daughter until the whole story reveals itself to have been a set-up for an episode focusing on the border (and the comparative ease with which white people can cross it). Anti-climactic and wasteful.
The final strand is the weakest of the lot. Like the second strand, it starts out strong with a bravura set piece at the Moroccan/Spanish border at Melilla, but this soon descends into repetitive scenes of a border guard struggling to reconcile his loyalty to his colleagues with telling the truth of what happened.
Much of the film has the look of authentic locales. There are some undeniably shocking, heart breaking moments along the way, and by the films end, we have gotten a little more insight into the complex interplay of forces causing a border crisis between Europe and Africa. That is a worthy enterprise, but narratively the film just doesn't entirely satisfy.
It is a fascinating look at a part of the world about which I rarely see movies so I am pleased to have watched it, but more development at the script stage about the second and third strands would have yielded much greater rewards, and ultimately perhaps widened the films impact. -
pooja-536069 July 2020Beautiful landscapes, visuals and sad poignant settings for the 3 stories across 3 African. countries. Wonderful story, direction, acting. Simply marvelous!
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davidtorrero22 July 2020Best Spanish movie in long time. Emotional value show. Beautiful picture.
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DogeGamer201512 July 2020This film is an emotional experience and portrays the sad reality of the African continent.
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Good story but having lived in west africa, many of the images shown were not reality, e.g Dakar airport made to seem about 10 times poorer than it is but they show a shiney air senegal plane, suggesting the film is set recently.
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gracelandgarciaortiz8 July 2020This movie really touched my heart i recommend this movie .
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ma-cortes3 February 2023A well performed film regarding several stories interweave in Africa and Spain, involving a collection of inter-related characters . Three people, three stories, one thing in common: Africa . Three heartbreaking stories come together in Melilla: a child on a desperate journey, a father (Luis Tosar) who finds himself with his estranged daughter (Anna Castillo) and a group of civil guards prepare to face the furious crowd of sub-Saharan people who have begun the assault on the fence , and then a civil guard (Alvaro Cervantes) is eaten away by guilt.
An intertwined and complex drama , being stunning and compellingly directed , dealing with three stories linked by a central theme, in which none of its protagonists know their destinies are doomed to cross and that their lives will no longer be the same. A well paced movie with nice narrating structure taken from prestigious directors as Alejandro G. Iñárritu , Guillermo Arriaga , Steven Soderbergh , being professionally made . There's so much going for this movie with vastly separate lives colliding in interweaving stories of despair, escape , a journey to a better life, knowledge and redemption , being well written by notorious screenwriter Alejandro Hernández. The performances are all terrific , while director Salvador Calvo seemingly effortless mastery of his medium goes from strength to strength , in whic stories cross and collide. Steering us through a densely detailed storyline with a clear-eyed sense of purpose and balance , including a handful of desperate people's lives eventually interlacing themselves . Filmmaker Calvo used three different film stocks , each with their own color treatment and grain for the print , with a hand-held camera at times , contributing gritty reportage-style camerawork to enhance an aura of authenticity . Interpreations are uniformly good : Luis Tosar as an environmental activist , his daughter finely played by Anna Castillo and Alvaro Cervantes as a Civil Guard with the task to protect the barb wire which divides the city of the rest of Africa to avoid the entering of African immigrants. And the two children are desperately fleeing, they are also very good. Furthermore , other stunning secondaries as Miquel Fernández, Nora Navas , Jesús Carroza , Ana Wagener and Belén López .
It contains a colorful cinematography shot on several locations in Republic of Benin, Lorca, Murcia, Mazarrón, Murcia , La Manga del Mar Menor, Cartagena, Murcia, Melilla, Parque de Atracciones, Madrid , Spain and Morocco. As well as evocative and stirring musical score by Roque Baños. The motion picture was competently directed by Salvador Calvo. This craftsman Salvador Calvo has made successful TV Series and episodes such as ¨Lo Que Escondían Sus Ojos¨ , ¨Mario Conde¨ , ¨La Duquesa¨ , ¨Askrana¨ , ¨Paquirri¨ , ¨Cuentame Un Cuento¨ , and has directed for cinema the hit ¨Los Ultimos De Filipinas¨ . Rating : 7.5/10 . Notable . Worthwhile watching. -
ferreira_fel6 July 2020Spectacular settings, sounds and production, a wonderful journey between different African countries where fragility can be appreciated. A drama where you can feel how difficult it is to go in search of a better world. Real Things in a real world. Totally Recommended
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septewie4 February 2021This movie is poorly written and disjoined. The characters are 1-dimensional and many characters seem to do things just to contrast or provide motivation for the main characters.