115. Close Your Eyes (Cerrar los ojos); movie review

 

CLOSE YOUR EYES (CERRAR LOS OJOS)

Cert 12A

169m

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language

It is mysterious and evocative and gives its audience pause for thought but I wish that Victor Erice's Close Your Eyes had been less than three hours long.

The movie is set in 2012, 20 years after the disappearance of a famous actor during production of a picture in which he was the star.

Having found his car and shoes at a cliff edge, the police presume that he has killed himself but a body is never found.

Thus, a popular TV programme, Unresolved Cases, delves into the mystery with the help of the few people still alive from the time.

These include the picture's director, Miguel Garay (Manolo Solo), who was deeply affected by what happened to his friend.

He lives a tranquil life with his dog in a caravan at a secluded beach but agrees to the limelight in the remote hope that he can achieve closure.

Along the way, he renews his friendship with his former director of photography (José Coronado), meets an old flame (Soledad Villamil) and resumes contact with the actor's daughter (Ana Torrent).

By the way, Torrent made her movie debut as a child in one of Erice's films in the early 70s and owes her highly successful career to the moment he selected her.

I digress.

They all have their own theories about the disappearance and none believe there is any chance the case can be successfully reopened.

Close Your Eyes is akin to a chess match with each move given thorough consideration before the final assault on the king.

And it has its rewards - Solo beautifully plays the tired but gentle Garay, and no detail is spared in the story development and backdrops.

But my appreciation was tempered by spending so much time on a film that at least keeps its audience guessing until its finale.

Reasons to watch: Mysterious and evocative

Reasons to avoid: Too long

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know? Víctor Erice had a public falling-out with artistic director Thierry Frémaux after Close Your Eyes failed to be selected for the Official Competition at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. 

The final word. Ana Torrent: "I never thought of this movie as a job. It was more. It felt like a full-circle moment. It felt like my life made sense after 50 years. I wouldn’t have been an actress if it wasn’t for Victor." Deadline

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