8: Julio Medem’s film is split between two protagonists, a man and a woman born on the same day, a few blocks from each other, but separated by circumstances. Chiefly among them, the political divide created after the Spanish Civil War and the rise of Franco. The story is told in eight chapters, decades apart; the protagonists’ fates dance around each other, but it’s easy to root for them. The film is certainly overdramatic, and the political message is nothing if not naïve, but the whole is quite pleasant and touching. Ana Rujas and Javier Rey play the pair, her a free-thinking woman of leftist roots, him an idealist man who dropped out of Franco’s army. The performances are fine, but far from remarkable. Each episode is presented in a fake single take (the transitions are obvious, and it’s often clear that a time jump occurred within each sequence); cinematographer Rafael Reparaz does a great job moving the camera around, generally finding interesting frames and beautiful movements. The music, composed by Lucas Vidal, is quite beautiful and a great fit, in particular the romantic theme that is repeated often. Costumes (designed by Maite Tarilonte) and art direction (by Montse Sanz) are competent enough to sell the passage of time.