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Reviews
La playa de los galgos (2002)
An interesting film, well acted and well done, but...
Mario Camus is a very interesting filmmaker, but he tends not to edit well, as in the magnificent portrait of Antonio López, in this film he tells a story with too many branches (some of them suddenly forgotten like the one than deals with Dubini's daughter, Ana). The movie has three parts. The first and the second explain enough where do we are and where we'll get: this a story of vengeance in a two way trip:from terrorist to victim, from victim to terrorist. The story of the terrorist is in a certain way, more humane than the other: the victim, when turns to the murderer of her husband, feels no remorse. This is when the whole story begins to tell us things that we all know: no matter if you have reason (s) or not: violence always destroys. The film is beautifully made in the northern part of Spain and in Dinamark. The cast does perfectly except for Bertha: for me, she does never gives her character a soul. And she most had one, somewhere... Finally: I think is a good, interesting film with some capital errors of (lack) of edition.
Sebastiane (1976)
Beautiful movie
I just found in a Spanish DVD shop this movie. I had seen Edward II and found it odd, but yet interesting. Sebastiane was made in Latin, because Jarman thought strange to be watching a movie about Romans that spoke English. I think it was wise and seductive. The story runs in a smooth way, as if someone with a camera (perhaps thanks to a Time machine,)was hiding to catch those moments. I can't find the scandalous issue here. I find quite natural that between a bunch of men exiled from the city of Rome, violence and desire could rise. Love (and love resistance, and violence and non violence. These are the arguments. I think Jarman made a beautiful movie, sensible, of religious meaning in the case of Sebastiane, and of love and frustration in the case of the Captain. The film reminds me absolutely Golding's "Lord of the flies", as the situation is similar. The film probably lacks passion or interior force, but this was only Jarman's first movie. I recommend this movie as I would Pasolini's "Edipo": I think both movies or perhaps the two director's sensibilities are in touch here.
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
Chemistry between distinct poles
I saw this movie when I was a child in Mexican black and white TV. Now it has been released in DVD in Spain by Divisa(2005) It is clear that true history is absent in most of the historic events related to the story. Essex was actually married to Penelope Rich (and not Gray, as in the movie), which meant nothing to his relationship to the queen. The meeting with Ireland's clan chief Tyrone was thought alright as treason, but when Essex entered London no one rouse with him. He passed a lot of time in his house, far from London, before the Queen made any decision on his final destiny... also Briton's uniforms in Ireland look Spanish...etc. The strange thing is that the story itself, as told by Curtiz, functions well. Davies is great ( a little bit overacting, but, who cares?), as the uncommon woman Elizabeth must have been. She did'not want Flynn to play the part: she asked for Laurence Olivier, but I sincerely think Flynn gave the necessary gaiety and spirits Essex would have had in reality, and Olivier would have spoiled that by his well known acting excesses, playing dark and severe where there should be light and superficial. Both, Davies and Flynn, seem profoundly in love and hate. Constanty driving in and out from and to love and politics. I would'not say this is a great movie, but it's worth while seeing it! (Excuse my English, I write better in Spanish)