Carla's Song [DVD]

I originally saw this film in New York City. Back in the days when I would regularly frequent the Art House theaters. I remember it being quite different. Its the kind of film that grows on you. It breaks the rules in many ways which only adds to its quality. Why not magic and a swell cabaret number too. CCH Pounder was fantastic in this. I had forgotten she had the lead role. Some 35 years ago after all. Jack Palance was fun to see again. Beautiful song 'I Am Calling You' by Jevetta Steele

I'm fortunate because I grew up in McAllen, TX and I therefore have a solid, working understanding of Spanish. I, therefore, didn't realize how much it was being spoken without subtitles until my husband asked me what the characters were talking about.Although the sudden obsession Robert Carlyle's character has for Carla is rushed and the fact that he's actually engaged (to his best friend?) while all this takes place is almost completely bipassed, it's still a nice drama.I admit I expected more when he follows her to Nicaragua. More explanation, more political problems, more ...just MORE. I can understand an instantaneous infatuation/obsession, it does happen, but it seems rushed in order to 1. ceate the relationship and 2. get them the heck out of Scotland and off to Nicaragua where the action is supposed to take place, yet it doesn't.All this, plus he's with her to help her search for her long lost boyfriend???And then there's the whole Spanish thing. It's no wonder that Robert Carlyle felt the need to learn some Spanish for this role. He'd have been completely lost without it. Fortunately for everyone involved, Carlyle does that thing were he can manage to be amazing in just about anything and makes it watchable. Makes it dramatic. Makes you involved even when, at times, you're completely lost.

Tight little movie that looses its way. What's with the song and dance routine? It kinda ruins the vibe of the whole movie. A couple other quirks with the lederhosen and the young teen girl and you gotta wonder which way this film was going to turn. But if you like strange little cult films it is OK. And, yes, heartwarming at the end.

This is the third time I have watched Bagdad Cafe over the years and my enjoyment was no less. It is a gentle film that captures the essence of love over violence in ordinary every day living. A fun watch and a great message.

I love a movie that has such strong place identity, characters that are transformed and female leads that find themselves in strange, new and beautiful lives. I call it "Shirley Valentine" style. This one is a complete winner.

I saw this when it came out and loved it, was surprised by it. It's still beautiful and so very sweet. (I'm reviewing Bagdad Cafe. Some reviews here are for some other film...)

Could not help disliking Brenda at the beginning (she turned out to be nice) but was a real feel good movie.Watching was a few happy hours in a very trouble America

It’s a very nice story about a Scottish man falling for a fornign girl. This was done with no script and there are great moments of acting. Some people might need subtitles to watch it because some talking is in Spanish. This girl definitely, is going through a certain mental illness,but George just wants her to be happy. Theres a bit of chaos that goes on after both of them get to Nicaragua. Very nice ending.

Great acting, wonderful scenery, a real sense of what it might feel like to live in a war zone. Fantastic music and an unusual, though realistic, ending. Well worth watching.

As one of my favourite films, even before purchase, 'Carla's Song' is a moving and very real story highlighting the struggle of refugees, and those still living in Nicaragua. Robert Carlyle lends himself to the character of George Lennox, a bus driver in Glasgow, and the development of his kind and caring character is tested by the harsh realities he faces when he takes Carla (Oyanka Cabezas), a Nicaraguan exile who becomes his lover, back to Nicaragua to find her mysterious boyfriend 'Antonio'.It's a film that is certainly worth watching, with beautiful acting and great direction full of the colour of Nicaragua and the reality of the lives they must lead. :D

Absolutely brilliant no probs with discs excellent & prompt service as 4 the film u have 2 see it I enjoyed it but then again I haven't seen Robert Carlyle in any bad films brilliant all the way through a must have 4 any collection

This has to be one of Ken Loach's finest movies. He exposes the American backed counter insurgency against the democratically elected and Socialist government of Nicaragua. Anybody interested in finding out how the long arms of US imperialism choked a country to near death must see this movie.Saying that it is also a timeless love story that inspires us all.

Robert Carlyle in this film is better than I've ever seen him.He possesses a gritty realism that enables him to play working class character parts like few others.He plays the part of disgruntled bus driver George who sticks up for a female passenger (Carla), who is getting the works from a jobsworth bus conductor for bunking on the bus, who refuses George's offer to pay her fare and let the matter slide. But the conductor wants none of it and wants to prosecute the girl.Carlyle allows the girl to flee the bus and shuts the door immediately, barring the conductor from chasing her.He duly gets reported and a final warning is issued to him over his conduct.A few days later the girl appears outside Carlyle's home and gives him a small gift as a thank-you for what he did for her.Carlyle becomes infatuated with the lovely Carla and initiates further contact with her.It soon becomes apparent that Carla has personal problems that haunt her from her Nicaraguan past. Where this might frighten some men away, Carlyle(George) is drawn only deeper in.He packs in his job, or is sacked, its not clear after he clears the bus one day of its passengers and takes Carla on the bus to Loch Lomond for a day out. He also chucks his girlfriend and buys two tickets for himself and Carla to go to Nicaragua, realising that Carla needs to confront the demons from her past that have her waking in the night, screaming and terrified.He knows that something awful happened to her old Nicaraguan boyfriend, Antonio ( a sandanistan) when captured by the Contra's during the Civil war in that country. He also realizes that he and Carla perhaps have no future without laying the past to rest.So to Nicaragua they go and get caught up in the war, where the film stresses to show that the whole conflict is funded and controlled by the CIA ( which many people have always believed anyway).Carla does indeed meet Antonio again, and for the ending you simply should see the film.It's a cracker from start to finish, all the acting and casting is superb, typical of ken Loach films.Carlyle is fantastic and one of the very finest and most versatile actors of his generation.