Alcarràs (2022)
Film details
Drama · Carla Simón · 1h 58min
Synopsis
In a small village in Catalonia, the peach farmers of the Solé family spend every summer together picking fruit from their orchard. But when plans arise to install solar panels and cut down trees, the members of this tight-knit group suddenly face eviction – and the loss of far more than their home.
Verdict
Rural drama about family roots and the end of a tradition.
In-depth analysis
Alcarràs soberly portrays the twilight of a family of Catalan farmers who have cultivated peach trees for eighty years. The story does not seek ideological confrontation but rather to show the tangible weight of heritage, manual labor, and the bond with the land. The central conflict is economic and moral: the property that has sustained several generations is threatened by contracts and legislative changes that compel a rethinking of the future. The film observes how each family member reacts to the imminence of loss: the grandfather who defends continuity, the children who bear the responsibility, and the grandchildren who no longer see a future in farming. There is no exaltation of victimhood nor attacks on the family structure; on the contrary, shared effort and loyalty among relatives are presented as values that give meaning to daily endeavor. The tone is realistic, without embellishment or easy solutions, and leaves the viewer with the question of what remains when the traditional way of life disappears.