I found this film entertaining but ultimately predictable. The formula of turning the lead character, Lola, from a plain, stressed out woman into a made-up beauty with warmth in her eyes for someone other than her son was pretty hackneyed. I also found it unrealistic to see how she, a neglected and deserted wife and mother, got herself from Spain to Argentina, with few resources. Did she have a sponsor? Then there was this question: Is it even possible for an autistic child to be "cured"? The little boy's performance was remarkable, and quite believable. I really wanted to like the film more, but kept thinking it was too good to be true, and was waiting for more chemistry to explode between Beto and Lola. Perhaps I have seen too many movies like this and am jaded. For my money, the scene with the sheep-shearing festival was the most earthy, moving and emotional, with the folk singing and dancing. I loved the cinematography and musical score also.
Review of The Lighthouse of the Whales
