Biutiful

Biutiful

Remember the movie “Biutiful?” Javier Bardem’s dark character runs a group of Senegalese immigrants who sell knockoffs of famous designer goods on “La Rambla,” the main drag of Barcelona. The immigrants are always ready to run from the police, who descend on them with sirens blaring and haul them off to jail.

The other day, Julya and I were walking La Rambla when she spotted the very characters. They stood in front of a collection of handbags and wallets laid out on a square of canvas....