In “The Good Boss,” Javier Bardem plays Blanco, owner of a factory that manufactures scales. Blanco lectures his employees about “balance” and “equity” and even more things evocative of scales. He espouses balance in all things, and yet he has so much more than most others. More than anything, Blanco wants the company to win a prize awarded by a committee that will be visiting the plant soon.
In the meantime, a young Arab is beaten in a park by thugs, including Salva (Martin Paez), the youngest son of one of Blanco’s oldest employees, an unfortunate man named Fortuna (Celso Bugalo), who also serves as Blanco’s pool man. Blanco’s wife Adela (Sonia Almarcha) runs her own small clothing shop. Blanco fires desperate midlevel employee Jose (a terrific Oscar de la Fuente), who begs to be taken back. Blanco refuses.
Along with his two young children, Jose sets up an encampment across the street from the entrance to the company. He makes posters and banners that become increasingly insulting to Blanco. Jose gets a megaphone. It’s public property, and he has a right to be there, according to the police. At the same time, Miralles (Manolo Solo) is falling apart and falling down on the job because he suspects his wife Aurora (Mara Guil), who repeatedly tells him she needs “air” and spends much less time at home. Meanwhile, a lithe, new intern named Liliana (Almudena Amor) catches Blanco’s eye.
