A quiet and thought-provoking film linking life, cinema, memory, and identity
Movie
Argentina, Spain
Spanish
Drama, Mystery
2023
VÍCTOR ERICE
Ana Torrent, Antonio Dechent, José Coronado
169 min
TLDR
Its slow pace pays off in immeasurable ways.
What it's about
A retired film director decides to look for his friend, an actor, who mysteriously disappeared 20 years ago. He speaks to friends and loved ones and realizes he might be closer to finding the truth after all these years.
The take
Some films are slow and talky because of mere indulgence, but Close Your Eyes owes its pace to naturalism and poetry. Each frame and dialogue is both beautiful and realistic. If they’re not meditating on the fickleness of life and memory, they’re honoring how cinema can encapsulate them. This is one of those movies you have to experience, not just witness. By the end of it, you’ll be pondering its deceptively simple ideas too, much like the thoughtful Miguel (Manolo Solo) and the elusive Julio (José Coronado).
What stands out
The naturalism of the film, and that arresting final shot.