Hours of Light (subtitles)

            Juanjo Garfia committed several arbitrary killings, was caught and incarcerated at Badajoz prison, in Spain, circa 1987.  This screenplay is based upon his true story and it follows his life over the next nine years.  The character's name may be fictitious, but I don't read Spanish, I don't know.  However, I found this to be both excellent acting and a most unusual love story. 

            Although we never learn about who Garfia was before his killing spree or why it all went down, we soon see his natural leadership, incredible determination and amazing will power in the face of prison abuses.  Four years elapse and Garfia develops a reputation for violence.  Then Miramar, a nurse and a single mom, goes to work at the prison infirmary and meets Garfia.  This meeting catalyzes several personal transformations. 

            During the remainder of the film, there is a point at which Garfia is allowed out of his solitary confinement and into a small exterior yard for one hour, hence the title.  Overall the storyline brings several questions to light: When is violence sociopathic?  How does society implement rehabilitation?  Then, how do we know when a violent criminal has been rehabilitated? 

            The story was well crafted and it progressed inauspiciously but steadily in the direction of change for several characters.  I thought that the guards were unrealistically and unnecessarily careless with some of the more violent prisoners.  Otherwise, the film raised important ethical questions and was quite real and believable. 

            Reviewed January 10, 2005 at the International Film Festival

            Rating unknown, but probably "R" for killing scenes and prison abuse violence.