Monday, June 6, 2011

Even the Rain (2010)

Even the Rain / Tambien la lluvia (2010)
Even the Rain / Tambien la lluvia (2010)

Genre: Drama
Director: Icíar Bollaín
Starring:  Luis Tosar, Gael García Bernal, Raúl Arévalo, Najwa Nimri, Karra Elejalde
Duration: 104 min.
Rating: 7.2

Summary:
As a Spanish director and his crew shoot a controversial film about Christopher Columbus in Cochabamba, Bolivia, local people rise up against the privatization of their water supply.



Even the Rain is a film written by Paul Laverty (Route Irish) and directed by Icíar Bollaín.  It premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, and it was Spain's official submission to the 83rd Academy Awards where it was selected to the shortlist.

Right from its earliest moments, the film's central theme, a circular reference of art imitating life imitating art becomes apparent in this social political drama.  As a Spanish film crew making a film about Columbus' conquests arrives in Bolivia to take advantage of the cheap labour costs.  Yet despite hammering the audience over the head repeatedly with this well worn and obvious metaphor, the film is very well directed and does manage at least until the ending, a very believable and touching story.  In fact it is based on a true event where the native Bolivians rose up against a multinational corporation who controlled their water supply.

The highlight of the film is its glorious cinematography, filled with gorgeous shots of the Bolivian landscape and multiple visual homages to Fellini and the jungle set films of Werner Herzog.  Along with some fine acting from the ensemble cast filled with Spanish stars, and a breakout performance from Juan Carlos Aduviri who plays a local man hired for one of the main roles in the picture but is also the leader of the protestors.

Worth seeing, but like Laverty's other screenplay from this year, it could use a little subtlety.

Even the Rain / Tambien la lluvia (2010)

Even the Rain / Tambien la lluvia (2010)

Even the Rain / Tambien la lluvia (2010)

Even the Rain / Tambien la lluvia (2010)

Even the Rain / Tambien la lluvia (2010)

Even the Rain / Tambien la lluvia (2010)

Even the Rain / Tambien la lluvia (2010)

Even the Rain / Tambien la lluvia (2010)

17 comments:

Bonjour Tristesse said...

It wasn't done terribly I just feel like that angle has been done so many times already.

The Angry Lurker. said...

The water issue is something current now to certain parts of the world.

The Reel Foto said...

I will try to catch it, thanks. :)

NeverTooEarlyMP said...

I really loved the layers in Tambien La Lluvia. A film within a film, with a documentary on the side, each shot in their own style. I actually really liked that they made connections between historical situations and the modern times, and I guess that I didn't mind that it wasn't as subtle, given how hard it can be to get audiences to take colonization seriously. I also enjoyed watching the characters change their positions from time to time. Great review!

NeverTooEarlyMP said...

You're probably right. I'm still pretty new to the art films, so it's possible that I just haven't seen it done before.

blahblahblahtoby said...

that's...wow. that's like something out of a near future sci-fi novel, the kind of thing you fear might happen not what is actually happening. plumbing the depths for profit, i shouldn't really be surprised.

Guy Movie Blogger said...

^ Science of Sleep was a great movie.  This one looks like a good alternative to my usual diet of schlock movies .

Thenitefalls said...

Looks like a movie I'll like to see :D. It seems like it would dramatically change my perspective on how important water is!

Adalmin said...

I'm more of a Diego Luna person (dem eyes) but Gael is a pretty good actor.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah I also thought he was impressive in that and The Science of Sleep as well

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Pretty much, contracting with governments to take over the burden of managing supply and then charging exorbitant rates for access.

Bernal was good as always, but even though he is a central character, it isn't really a lead role.

Das Auto! said...

Looks like some epic scenery at the very least - I'll have to check this one out

biff Tanner said...

I'll have to get this one, thanks.

Andrew Buckle said...

I'm seeing this at the SFF. Looking forward to it. Bernal has been great in everything I have seen him in. 

Jack L said...

I do like films about films, so I'll probably see this one...
Bernal is good as well, I liked him in Motorcycle Diaries.

blahblahblahtoby said...

so i'm imagining that there are countries where the citizens are not allowed water because multinationals are hording it. how close am i?

as for the film, how was gael garcia bernal?

d_4 said...

I'm looking forward to picking this one up now, didn't know of its existance. Stuck in the past here.

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