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| City-feet members' message board > Barefoot memories&impressions > Review of Soledad Descalza/Soledad Barefoot |
| Posted by: Southerncrossfire44 Jan 14 2016, 03:46 PM |
| So, I spent the 4 dollars to watch “Soledad Descalza/Soledad Barefoot” on Vimeo, and I figured I would offer my thoughts on the film. English subtitled version: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/barefootsoledad Original Spanish version: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/soledaddescalza First of all, the film is exactly as its described: it’s about a Spanish woman named Soledad who goes barefoot all the time, everywhere. It is not a fake out where she is only barefoot for like five minutes or so of the film. It’s shot in a documentary style, though it’s completely fictional. I definitely was thinking about the real life barefoot gypsy Cecelia as I watched this movie, since she’s also from Spain, and I wondered if Cecelia might really connect with the film. There’s a lot of social commentary in the film, with criticisms of the media and society’s pressures to conform. The commentary is clear, but not heavy-handed. Overall, the movie is well-done with a few really excellent performances. Sylvia Conesa, who plays Soledad, is especially great, and I thought she was wonderful at portraying Soledad’s emotional roller coaster. She was also very good at playing a credible barefooter. I doubt the actress is a barefooter in real life, but she was convincing on screen (no tenderfooting). Sylvia reminds me of a younger Sandra Bullock in looks, and I know I fell in love with the character. I would gladly have taken the place of her stupid boyfriend (as would most of the guys here, I suspect)! I won’t spoil too much, though I will say that the movie does not have a completely happy ending, nor is it overly bleak. Now, for the most important question: how is the barefooting in this film? Quite simply, it is excellent! As a film intended for a general audience, this is probably as good a foot show as we will ever see. Sylvia Conesa has pretty feet (and FYI, she keeps her nails unpainted), and we see them a lot, often in close-up. Mostly dirty soles, though not black, and there are a few shots of her clean soles. As for outfits, Soledad wears an office skirt and coat, a short sundress, jeans, workout clothes, and shorts, so if you’re a fan of any of those styles, you’ll see them. She even goes sort of goth in one scene. In addition, we see the bare feet of many other female characters, including a scene where Soledad and a fan touch each other’s soles and compare the toughness. There are a couple of scenes of barefoot guys, but these are brief, and no close-ups. Of particular interest to readers on this site, there is a short scene where a young Russian woman says that she was inspired by Soledad to go barefoot all of the time (though I don’t believe the Russian girl has ever modeled for City Feet). To sum it up, while not perfect, I would definitely recommend this film to fans of girls who go barefoot all of the time. If you like the stories I have written about barefoot girls, you should like this film. I don’t really want to go into a lot of spoilers, but I will try to answer questions people might have about the film. |
| Posted by: like_them_dirty Jan 14 2016, 10:43 PM |
| Thank you very much for the review. Really appreciated! |
| Posted by: Southerncrossfire44 Jan 15 2016, 04:10 AM |
| You're welcome! Glad I could help! One thing I would add, is that Soledad's barefooting is never treated as a joke by the filmmakers. Some of the characters act negatively about it, but the film itself always is sympathetic to Soledad and takes the position that her going barefoot is a good thing, and there's no harm in it. Other people's attitudes are the problem, not Soledad's going barefoot. |
| Posted by: The_barefoot_runner Jan 15 2016, 10:49 PM |
| Thank you for introducing this good film. BTW does it has sexy scene? |
| Posted by: Southerncrossfire44 Jan 16 2016, 04:55 AM |
| There are no scenes that are blatantly sexy. She doesn't get into any foot play with her boyfriend or anything like that. Still, there are a lot of close ups of Soledad's feet and other women's feet, and if you think girls just going barefoot in public is sexy, there are plenty of scenes like that. |
| Posted by: dougiezerts Jan 16 2016, 03:48 PM |
| Do you know of there's a DVD version of this film? |
| Posted by: Boso Jan 16 2016, 10:57 PM |
| You know where i can watch this without credit card? Unfortunately, i don't have it. |
| Posted by: Southerncrossfire44 Jan 17 2016, 06:10 AM |
| As far as I can tell, there has not been a DVD release of this movie yet, which is too bad, because I would buy it in a heartbeat. I would hope for some nice behind the scenes features, too. As for seeing it without a credit card, that doesn't seem to be an option right now. |
| Posted by: Southerncrossfire44 Jan 21 2016, 08:14 PM |
| Has anyone else actually seen this movie yet? Anyone have any other questions? |
| Posted by: Daniellowl Jan 22 2016, 05:40 PM |
| Have You got some pics or scenes from this movie? I don't have a opportunity to buy a whole movie |
| Posted by: Southerncrossfire44 Jan 22 2016, 07:12 PM |
| There's a free trailer for the movie on the Vimeo page linked in my original post. There are several photos on the movie's Facebook page. |
| Posted by: Clipper Jan 24 2016, 11:25 PM |
| I see the film on vimeo too. Is a docu-film,shot more like a documentary than a real movie. Anyway there is a scene where are well visible the soles of the protagonist,and are quite tough and calloused. It will be interesting to know if the main actress really make her soles like this or if is a montage trick |
| Posted by: Hal Heaven Jan 25 2016, 09:41 AM |
| Thanks a lot for the review --- I watched the trailer a few weeks ago and it looks great. -Hal- |
| Posted by: Southerncrossfire44 Jan 25 2016, 03:19 PM |
| Hal, you should definitely check out the full film if you get a chance! Clipper, I really hope that Sylvia Conesa did "keep it real" with her barefooting. Since this was a pretty low budget movie, I doubt there were too many montage tricks, but sometimes it's hard to tell for sure. I would love some more behind the scenes information on the film. Maybe we'll get some if there is a DVD release. |
| Posted by: DG2001 Jan 28 2016, 01:13 AM | ||
Hi guys I talked with the director of the film several months ago, and he told me that Silvia got a lot into her character and went barefoot everywhere during the filming. It seems she became sort of a barefooter while the movie was being done. I haven't seen the film so I don't know if her soles are hard and rough, if they seem those of a girl who lives barefoot 24/7, but I am sure she did a great work. |
| Posted by: Southerncrossfire44 Jan 28 2016, 04:59 PM |
| It's great to know that Silvia really got into her character. I thought she was very believable as a barefooter in the film, so it makes sense that she would have practiced barefooting off-camera. I don't think it would have been possible to pull off many of the barefoot scenes if she was just taking her shoes off right before the camera rolled. |
| Posted by: DG2001 Feb 1 2016, 02:52 AM |
| Hi guys! Today I watched this excellent movie, here's my review: Soledad Descalza / Barefoot Soledad Is there anything dangerous in a woman who wears no shoes? Is she a menace to society, a danger to people? Soledad Descalza (Barefoot Soledad, and which can also be translated as Barefoot Solitude or Barefoot Loneliness) is a movie in a mockumentary format about Soledad Paramo, a woman who lives barefoot, a true 24/7/365 barefooter from Spain. Soledad always loved to walk barefoot on holidays, and one day, out of the blue, decides not to wear shoes ever again. The movie is the story of her life during a whole year. Soledad harms no one, she seeks no fame, she is a normal woman who just happens not to wear shoes, to live her life, to be comfortable, to be herself. The movie shows the behaviour of our society, how it reacts against someone who just happens to be different. Soledad is not dangerous, she harms no one, she is not mesianic, she doesn't want neither to set a trend nor to become an example to follow. But she is different, and this leads to all kind of situations from people who is openly against her, from the few ones who truly support her, from those who imitate her. The movie is a good one, trust me. All the actors perform in a credible way, which makes you think you're actually watching a real documentary. The filming maitains a good rhythm from the beginning to the end. The camera work is outstanding. Silvia Conesa does a remakable work and demonstrate us the great actress she is. She puts herself inside the skin of her character. She IS Soledad Paramo, to the point that the soles of her feet are those of a true barefooter: hard, rough, calloused...healthy and beautiful. All the other actors and actresses perform an excellent work that rounds the movie and creates a real experience that surrounds the viewer who wants to know what will happen next. This is a movie that makes us think about our society and what has happened to us, why a convention can become more important than a person, than a human being, than a good woman who just wants to live her life and who asks nothing but respect and love from her fellows. Watch "Soledad Descalza", you won't regret it. You can rent it on Vimeo for just $3, but it's worth much more. Congratulations to Juan Carlos Martinez, to Silvia Conesa and to all the team who made this movie, this wonderful project true. The movie is available on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/barefootsoledad |
| Posted by: Hal Heaven Feb 2 2016, 07:47 AM |
| ^ Thanks for the addition review, DG. The movie sound really good! -Hal- |
| Posted by: DG2001 Feb 2 2016, 03:29 PM | ||
Hi Hal! Yes, it is a very good movie! It exceeded my expectations, actually it's a movie everyone can see. And for those of us who appreciate the special beauty of a barefoot girl...well, there's a scene where two girls check the soles of the other, assess it to see how tough it is  |