AllMovie

A down-on-his-lick mechanic living in Franco-era Madrid joins his dapper best friend in seeking out a better life in Switzerland in a socially conscious comedy from director/co-writer (along with Central de Guiones) Carlos Iglesias. Gear-head Martin (Iglesias) lives in a cramped Madrid flat with his ageing parents, his wife Pilar (Nieve de Medina), and the couple's young son Pablito (Ivan Martin). Though Pilar has made a noble attempt to improve their lot in life by putting a down payment on a nice new home, her plan goes up in smoke when Martin is unexpectedly laid off as a result of economic restructuring. After hearing how far the franc can go in nearby Switzerland, Martin and his best friend Marcos (Javier Gutierrez) board the first train available and prepare to test their luck abroad. Upon arriving at their scenic Alpine destination Martin and Marcos rent a room at a spacious boarding house run by comely blonde Hanna (Isabel Blanco), Martin strikes up a shy romance with the accommodating host. When Martin's wife and son arrive in the village shortly thereafter, the former mechanic's search for a better life on foreign soil takes an unexpectedly complicated turn of events.