Julio Medem’s melodrama leans heavily on the star appeal of Penélope Cruz. But even with Cruz radiating beatific charisma, there is little to recommend this unashamedly manipulative tale of a breast cancer survivor who strikes up a brief but meaningful relationship with a widower (Luis Tosar). The treatment of the subject is rather crass – Medem’s directorial flourishes are undermined by a score that pushes every weepy button it can shake a quavering violin at.
