Dir: Carlos Marques-Marcet | Cast: Alfredo Castro, Angela Molina, Monica Almirall | Spain 106mins
Euthanasia is a hot topic at the moment with The Room Next Door taking the Golden Lion at Venice 2024 and now this end of life drama from Spain’s Carlos Marques-Marcet who puts a positive spin on the subject winning an award Toronto and Valladolid only weeks later.
The film is so upbeat and pragmatic it incorporates jaunty dance sequences and even are aria from Maria Callas into the storyline that kicks off with a histrionic outburst from Claudia (Molina), an actor who has been struck down with a brain tumour and is quickly calmed down by her theatre director husband Flavio (Castro) in their comfortable home. Many may find the comedy treatment inappropriate but it suits the emotional pitch of a couple who are facing up to the final years with jokey humour and dignity.
Claudia wants to go to Dignitas Switzerland but Flavio refuses to left be left alone and opts to die by her side. But their daughter Violeta (Batet) is not convinced, and finds herself engaging in persuasive debate between her parents in a discussion that give the drama potent emotional freight although the subject is not played out with quite the same rigour as the feeling that erupt.
Such is their devotion to one another that Claudia and Flavio decide to renew their vows with some cringeworthy moments for their extended family. It’s always awkward and faintly embarrassing when long-term couples insist on egging the omelette by imposing their declarations of devotion and undying love for each other on their nearest and dearest. But these two are so wrapped up in one another they fail to notice or even care. And in some ways this adds grist to the drama that plays out, as predicted, with an airing of privately shared songs as so on.
When Claudia is asked by the clinic to provide a “playlist to die to” it soon becomes clear that she is very much a diva who wants her ‘swansong’ to be a memorable performance for everyone in the family whether appropriate or not. Veteran actor Molina certainly gives gusto to her dying character as the star turn of this intense and intelligent film. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea @MeredithTaylor
CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2024 | Special Screening