Directed by:
Alejandro AmenábarCinematography:
Javier AguirresarobeComposer:
Alejandro AmenábarCast:
Javier Bardem, Belén Rueda, Lola Dueñas, Mabel Rivera, Celso Bugallo, Clara Segura, Alberto Jiménez, Tamar Novas, Francesc Garrido, Josep Maria Pou (more)Plots(1)
Life story of Spaniard Ramon Sampedro, who fought a 30-year campaign to win the right to end his life with dignity. Film explores Ramon’s relationships with two women: Julia, a lawyer who supports his cause, and Rosa, a local woman who wants to convince him that life is worth living. Through the gift of his love, these two women are inspired to accomplish things they never previously thought possible. Despite his wish to die, Ramon taught everyone he encountered the meaning, value and preciousness of life. Though he could not move himself, he had an uncanny ability to move others. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (4)
A more melancholic and weepy version of Me Before You in the lower middle class. Javier Bardem is excellent, there are some great ideas and some interesting dialogue, but it's primarily the strength of the premise and its existential overtones than how it's executed. The love triangle was like something cut out of a soap opera in places.
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The high level of acting (especially Bardem’s performance) and the sensitivity of the directorial approach to psychology perhaps don’t deserve so much sentimentality, which drowns the philosophical potential in tears, as if it was intended for soap-opera viewers. But perhaps Alejandro Amenábar did that intentionally in order to appeal to the broadest possible audience. In my view, however, that causes his film to lose a bit of its value and it becomes more of an ideal TV movie than a great story for the big screen. But I’ll be damned if I didn’t tear up and was rendered speechless during one scene, namely the flying scene. This is exactly what my “flying dreams” look like. Beautiful.
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Beautiful film. The sensitive approach to the material allows the viewer to have their own opinion on the issue. You will either respect Ramón’s wish to die, or you will see him as someone weak and unable to cope with his destiny and live at least the way his condition will allow. As a supporter of euthanasia and the right to absolute freedom to one’s own life, I’d say let him end things the way he wants, but it’s certainly not a decision I would make in such situation, there are people who have it a lot worse.
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Thematically and in terms of how it was made, this is an exceptionally powerful albeit unsettling film. The weighty theme of voluntary departure from life is captured realistically, without cheap sentiment, and yet extraordinarily emotively. Javier Bardem gives an excellent performance in the lead role, and both of his female partners excel in their respective roles. A socially significant film, of which there are few. Overall impression: 95%.
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