AllMovie

This film offers an ample supply of the types of charming scenes commonly found in coming-of-age movies, such as curious kids spying on adults and learning about courtship. The cast is first-rate, particularly Fernando Fernan Gomez (Belle Epoque, The Spirit of the Beehive), and the individual vignettes that comprise the film are handled skillfully. Most of the scenes are entertaining and the pacing is generally effective, although too much time is spent on Mancho's tenure as the mascot for a traveling group of musicians. Furthermore, the movie provides an interesting perspective on the days leading to the Spanish Civil War, as the political situation changes from a conversation topic to something that permeates everyone's lives. The filmmakers wisely chose to get the audience emotionally involved in the lives of the characters and then show how the historical context impacts their lives. This sets up the audience for an interesting twist in the latter part of the film, which may force viewers to reevaluate everything that preceded it. At the very least, it ensures that the movie is more than just a cute but predictable coming-of-age story.