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My Film Review for
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Mar Adentro
Alejandro Amenábar
This review is a contribution to the Spanish
Word-a-Day written by
Christopher Champion.
Mar Adentro
deals with a theme which is controversial in nearly all societies today:
euthanasia. There is a tendency when one embarks upon a mission to turn
an ethical debate into a film that the result will be trite and
contrived. This film, however, is neither. It is a powerful film and
that is due to the attempt to truly understand the protagonist. The
Spanish is difficult because the central character is Galician, but that
should not put off anyone learning Spanish, it is still very much worth
watching.
One aspect I find interesting in this film is the way that the
characters cope with the situation. There are some stereotypical
characters with their resolute opinions, but that reflects society and
this after all is a true story. One aspect that is inescapable is that
this film has a predetermined stance, which will always try and show
through its portrayal of the issue.
There are aspects of this film I find inappropriate and I think it is a
shame that they occur. One particular scene late on in the film involves
a brief adventure into the imagination of the protagonist, which I feel
negatively affects the film through its fanciful nature and the way it
is dealt with. The whole scene is disappointing and it breaks the
intensity that the film has worked so hard to develop and maintain. The
intention, I assume, is to work on the emotions of the viewer, so that
we sympathise with him and what he is unable to achieve, but I feel this
is a low point in the film and could well have been omitted.
On the whole this film is a powerful depiction of the issue of
euthanasia. I would highly recommend it, since it is a very personal
story, and it will play on your emotions, forcing you to think about the
issue. This is a demanding film, but a rewarding as well. It is also
possible to buy the associated book, which has poems from the
protagonist. Again these are an interesting way to find out more about
euthanasia through a very personal story.
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