Inarritu's Biutiful exceeded my expectations beautifully, which he always seems to do. This is a film which touches on difficult, painful themes that are part of why life is beautiful and sacred.
The acting is simply superb. The cast, which includes a number of individuals who are not professional actors, revealed emotional depth and authenticity that just blew me away. The photography is exquisite and the soundtrack is perfect.
It's not an easy film to watch. What it is, though, is a deep and heart-felt tribute to humanity and the essential connections between people that make life meaningful and worth living.