After... Part One: Can't You Be Left Alone?

Director(s) - Cecilia Bartolome (Let's Go Barbara, Lejos de Africa) and Jose Juan Bartolome (After... Part Two: Tied Up and Tied Up Well)

Starring - Marcelino Camacho (Epilogo, Informe Semanal), Santiago Carillo (Angel Casas Show, Agora), and Felipe Gonzalez (Salvados, Franco's Settlers)

Release Date - 1983

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've reviewed box sets and collections in the past that featured a documentary around the filmmakers, genre, and so on that the set featured.  However, I've never reviewed a box set with as many documentaries as this set has.  This one started with two documentaries before I even got to a legitimate movie.  I was then able to watch three or so movies before I found yet another documentary.  This time the doc. is the 1983 film After... Part One: Can't You Be Left Alone? from Ceclilia and Jose Bartolome.  Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows first hand accounts of citizens of Spain who recount the transition from a fascist dictator to a loose democracy.  

     After... Part One: Can't You Be Left Alone? is an interesting documentary that is equally as depressing as it is frustrating.  I'm sure every review of this film associated with the Exorcismo box set will compare it to the bullshit going on here in the U.S. so I will try to refrain from it.  Don't get me wrong, it's a very interesting doc but it doesn't have enough going on to be as long as it is.  The interviews and so on shown in this range from people that lived through this transition to historians and so on.  This was interesting early on but as the film progressed these interviews seemed to become repetitive with very little new aspects shared.  The topics and history shared is very in depth, early one, but does follow the same footsteps as the interviews.  We find ourselves with certain topics and talking points becoming repetitive.  I don't know if this was an issue with editing or they felt it was so important that they mentioned certain things over and over again.  Finally, the editing and filming of this doc is a bit rough at times.  Some of the footage used is rough around the edges when compared to the footage used for the doc.  The editing is not the smoothest I've seen especially for a documentary which is usually very well polished.  Overall, After... Part One: Can't You Be Left Alone? was interesting for the first half of it's run time but repetitiveness and lack of polish made this one a tough one to finish.  Skip it.