Between Sea and Land

Alberto wants to go to the sea. The shanty he shares with his mother, Rosa, which stands in the water of an inlet, lies just over a short strip of land from the Caribbean. But for Alberto it may as well be miles. He suffers from a devastating muscular disease that keeps him mostly bed-ridden and always attached to an oxygen pump. Rosa devotes her life to her son, doing all she can to keep the unreliable electricity flowing and provide food. But Alberto can draw. And he can plan. When he presents his mother with sketches for a chair and a portable power source, the once-impossible trip to the sea now becomes the obsessive goal of a mother's love. Driven by an amazing performance from Manolo Cruz (who also wrote the film) as Alberto, BETWEEN SEA AND LAND is a film of sublime beauty. It is a tale of courage and love rising nobly from the depths of poverty, exerting a pull as powerful as the sea. (In Spanish with subtitles) –C.R.