Everybody Knows

        Written and directed by  Asghar Farhadi ("A Separation", "The Salesman"), this new drama stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, and Ricardo Darin. It takes place in a small town outside Madrid. Working for the first time outside his native Iran and with a Spanish speaking cast, Mr. Farhadi explores his  familar themes in a new setting.

          Ms. Cruz stars as Laura, a woman living in Argentina, who travels back to her home town with her two children to attend the wedding of her younger sister. Unexpected events reveal old secrets that impact Laura, her family and friends.

            I wouldn't call the film suspenseful but more of a tense mystery. Mr. Farhadi is more interested in using the turn of the plot as a device to explore his themes of class and family dynamic rather than turn the film in a different direction to create a typical thriller.

            The acting is first rate and the film is beautifully shot in a lovely Spanish setting. The story itself gets overly complicated involving too many characters but eventually does come to a resolution that leaves broken lives in it's wake.