How Long Is “For 80 Days”?

Jon Garano and Jose Mari Goenaga wrote and directed this drama about an elderly woman confronted by her past and the life she could have led. Axun (Itziar Aizpuru) is a seventy-year-old housewife who lives in Basque country with her grumpy and disinterested husband Juan Mari (Jose Ramon Argoitia). Axun learns that Mikel, the former husband of her daughter Josune (Ane Gabarain), was involved in a severe auto accident and has drifted into a coma; Josune isn't especially concerned about his condition, but Mikel no family to look after him, so Axun begins visiting him on a regular basis so he won't spend his days alone. Mikel is sharing his room with an elderly man who has a regular visitor, Maite (Mariasun Pagoaga), and as their paths cross, Axun and Maite realize they knew one another in high school. Axun is also reminded that in their teens, she and Maite were infatuated with one another and they kissed, but Axun was hesitant to go further. Now fifty years on, Maite has enjoyed a long career in academia and is an out-of-the-closet lesbian, while Axun finds she's still drawn to her friend but wonders if it's too late to change her life. 80 Egunean (aka For 80 Days or 80 Days) was an official selection at the 2010 BFI London Film Festival.