Pan's Labyrinth (2006, Mexico-Spain)

I have never really liked either Spanish films or fantastic movies so, as you can imagine, I was skeptical about this one. I was almost halfway through it when it totally hypnotized me.

Pan's Labyrinth is set at the beginning of Franco's dictatorship in Spain. A little girl, Ofelia, arrives to the countryside with her mother who is pregnant and newly married to a Captain in charge of fighting some resistance groups in the mountains nearby. Being unhappy there, Ofelia finds comfort in Mercedes, the maid, and also in the fantastic story she finds herself dragged into. She is supposed to be the long-lost daughter of a king from a magic world but she must prove herself in order to enter this world. So, the film goes back and forth from the real world to the fantastical world, only perceived by Ofelia.

Despite being a Spanish film, I really liked the actors (yes, I despised Spanish cinema and actors that much, I could never believe their acting but I now think it is because it was weird for me listening Spanish). Specially the captain. In my opinion he is the greatest actor in the film, inspiring even dread in the viewer.

I do not really know what else I can say about it. I do not want to spoil you the film by writing too much. So I will only recommend it to you. If you watch it and you feel like writing, comments will always be welcome!

My rate: 8.5/10

Mystic River (2003, USA)

Interesting film, I must say, that tells the story of three friends. When they were just children, one of them was abducted by two false policemen who raped him and tortured him for 3 days until he could escape. Years later, the daughter of one of them is brutally murdered and under these circumstances they are forced to get together again. One of them, as the officer in charge of the case, the other one as a relative of the murdered girl's father.

Personally, I guessed the end of the film within the first part, nevertheless, I kept doubting until the last moment. The very last moment.

21 grams (2003, USA)

"And how much fits into 21 grams? 

How much is lost? 

When do we lose 21 grams? 

How much goes with them? 

How much is gained?"

Recommended by a friend and watched on a lonely Friday night, it was a rather good plan! First of all, just in case you think what I did: no, it's not about drugs. It's more intense. Profound. Harder. So, as an  explanation: 21 grams is not referred to drugs, it's referred to the supposed weight of our souls. I had already started watching it when it hit me and it totally changed my expectations about this film.

First of all you get to know the characters, each one is deeply developed. One, Benicio del Toro, is an ex-convict, struggling through a financial and personal crisis who has found in Christ the answer to all his questions, taking it to the extreme. Another one, Sean Penn, is on the waiting list for a heart transplant. Finally, Naomi Watts, a mother of two girls and devoted wife.

It's not that simple, though. The film gets shape in a Memento-like structure. Using flashbacks and flash-forwards the story is revealed. This way it confuses you, intrigues you, lets you guess and lets you be mistaken. Step by step you build the story in your head, you connect the scenes and get more intrigued to know how they got to the one you are watching in that very moment.

The yellow eyes of the cocodriles (Fr, 2014)

Well, after a really fast bike ride to the cinema, even risking my life through the traffic in Place d'Italie to get to the 19h05 session of Her (USA, 2013), we get there at 19h00 to find out that, surprisingly enough, every seat is taken (except 4 or 5 in the first row and separated one from each other). So, we decide to watch this film, The yellow eyes of the cocodriles.

I must say it was a quite nice surprise. I mean, I had already heard of the book (by Katherine Pancol. It's the first novel of a trilogy followed by The Turtles' Slow Waltz and The Central Park Squirrels Are Sad on Monday Mornings), but I had no clue about what this film was about. I was happy to find an interesting story, through which characters evolve, and which also encloses several surprises.