The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Love this film. The lead is a star as is his friend's father José. I gotta complain though about the plot conceit to add drama. Child abuse in Madrid is a crime; this is confirmed at the end of the film. The obvious solution should start with the police. The boy is going to have broken healed bones everywhere, including his nose, no matter what he's willing to admit. Why deal with all-night legal discussions, an emergency room, and driving the streets of Madrid looking for El Bola. Their friend giving them legal advice failed to take this child directly to La Policia, required by law, as was the physician's and nurse's duty. The writer could have included the legal facts and safest help for Pablo by going straight to the police. And, there's no need to notify Pablo's parents that you've got their son; it's the middle of the night and everything can be faced four hours later in the morning without any fear of a kidnapping charge (ridiculous, because the number of witnesses involved, no one could not pin this on anyone but the father - with his bruised hands. I don't mean to quibble; I just hate when a terrific story is marred by incredulity.

Pablo is 12 years old and is abused by his father while his friend Alfredo and Alfredo's family watch.Film is done in a very interesting style. Not much violence is used. Pablo isn't shown doing great histrionics. Father also isn't shown a neurotic or a psychopath. It's just that their chemistry has gone wrong somewhere and they can't get along. Pablo comes across as a energetic, non-conformist boy. Relationship between all the characters are very real and full of daily conversation. Film doesn't have a single dull moment.Pablo's father steals the show here. Great acting. Acting is mostly above average and cinematography is amazing. Pablo is really very good and so is his friend. Scene where Alfredos father pull up Pablo and Alfredo in the car is very good. I kept wondering what would be the end of the film. To my expectation the ending was perfect ending. Good film. 8/10.

Well, after watching this movie, i felt that this one would be my favorite for a long time. Now three years later nothing about that has changed. Let's check how El Bola's life has been changed...I've also seen movies like "boys of st Vincent" and "song for a raggy boy", but this movie about child abuse is just different. The movies i mentioned have great (young)actors too, but this movie make you realize that this might be your neighbour boy's story. If you start watching the movie, you feel that something's wrong with El Bola ("Pellet") but you just don't know what. And i guess that's one of the strengths of this movie: it's not only told in a natural way, but it's rather suggestive. And a lot of people are disappointed that the movie's just cut after 88 minutes without a proper ending, but i think that's the way it goes in real life too : a life/story is like a roller coaster: it has it ups and downs, but the only thing that matters is where it endsBut this movie wouldn't be the same without the strong soundtrack (highly recommended) and it's young cast. El Bola is played by Juan José Ballesta (my favorite young actor) who also appears in the interesting and touching "planta 4a". He has also a very small role in a movie a mentioned before : "song for a raggy boy" (as the young friend of the teacher in the flash backs)

At present, unfortunately, Spain is suffering the highest level of child-beating and badly treated wives of all Europe. Around 60 women are killed each year by their husbands, ex-husbands, lovers, etc., and every day children are taken into hospitals after being savagely beaten by, mostly, their fathers, though there are also frequent cases of both mother and father taking part in the treatment metered out.It would not be strictly correct to affirm that this film, `El Bola' directed by Achero Mañas, reflects this sociological situation, and probably was not the intention anyway: there were other important issues that had to be unveiled, too. However, in brief, we could say that the film is basically concerned with the physical punishment Pablo (El Bola) receives from his father, a small business owner, frustrated and bored with life. Pablo receives refuge from a sympathetic family, but the problems do not stop there.Well directed, above all keeping the violence within strict proportions to the import of the story, and in general good interpretations which do not tend to unnecessarily exaggerate the crude and difficult situations being enacted. Special mention, of course, is well deserved for the main actor – Juan José Ballesta, about 11 years old. He had a very secondary rôle in `El Embrujo de Shanghai' (qv), and thus surprised me at being able to deliver such a performance in this film: obviously the director's careful handling of the young lad, as well as some excellent rapport with the other actors, especially Nieve de Medina, holds the film on course. I hope that this younger generation of Spanish directors, such as Achero Mañas and of course Fernando León de Aranoa (Los Lunes al Sol, qv, also with Nieve de Medina) can keep up the good work in the sociological sphere with real human stories to tell.WARNING: this film necessarily includes a scene of extreme child violence carried out by his overwrought father, and thus care should be taken by parents. The Spanish rating of only for over 13s should not be taken seriously: over 18 would be more appropriate. The scene is short; the film is not only about violence as it has many other ingredients. However, this brief scene is very hard on the senses.