RSS 2.0Mar Adentro (2004)
Based on a true story, this is a moving depiction of the legal battle by Ramon Sampedro against the government of Spain for the right to be allowed assistance in taking his own life. Sampedro, who became a quadriplegic after an accident in his early 20’s, believes passionately that he should not be forced to live life without dignity. And by refusing to use a wheelchair or be dependent upon anyone more than he has to, Sampedro’s dilemma raises the controversial and timely questions of who exactly should determine when a person’s quality of life is unacceptable. Should anyone be forced to go on living when they no longer choose to do so?
Though it is sometimes slow and heavy on the dialogue, this movie is thought provoking and engaging. I found myself vacillating between the opposition viewpoints of wanting Sampedro to live and sympathizing with his desire to die. Laced with some amazingly lush scenery, it makes for a truly satisfying drama for those with the patience to allow the story to unfold slowly. One of the most dramatic scenes depicts the accident which leaves Sampedro crippled for life and the image may very well haunt you.
Sampedro’s legal battle sets the backdrop for an exploration of familial, platonic and romantic love. Each of these seems destined to pull Sampedro away from his chosen path of suicide until you realize that his determination to have control over his destiny and ultimately over his body outweigh all other factors. He was clearly aware that his decision might not be the right one for every quadriplegic, but through the careful development of his character we see that for a man so previously virile and full of life, his decision is completely personal and makes ultimate sense for him as an individual.
Huge kudos go to Javier Bardem for an amazing performance in this challenging role. His acting is limited almost exclusively to his face. In practically all of the scenes, Sampedro is confined to a bed and paralyzed from the neck down. Bardem is extremely handsome and could undoubtedly have been cast in any number of movie vehicles that would accentuate his sex appeal with scenes of him shirtless and swaggering. Instead, in this movie he is bloated, aged and motionless. Yet, he manages to make the absolute most of this role by bringing a passionate intensity to a man whose body was physically lifeless.
The irony that this movie is being released so soon after the sudden death of Christopher Reeve will undoubtedly add to the controversy of the subject matter. But maybe the level of controversy will give this foreign film the exposure it needs to allow Bardem a much deserved shot at an Oscar nomination.
marisa (44 posts)Lives happily in upstate Manhattan with a small dog and an amazing woman who weirdly doesn't watch movies very often. (I guess you can't have perfection.)
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Pfew, not really for a thoughtless night out, is it?
I can understand that the matter of euthanasia is still controversial in the States (or even Spain) but I don’t think that the Dutch audience will be very shocked by this. I wouldn’t be.
Again, your review is very beautifully written.
Comment by Paco — Fri November 26, 2004 @ 1:13I don’t know what to expect from the Dutch (audiences) anymore… Holland has recently turned into a noxious melting pot of extremes and we seem to be time-warping back to the 1950′s, if not the middle ages, socially and politically.
So although I am also personally in favour of legal euthanasia, I would no longer dare to proudly say that many of the Dutch agree. The way things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised if the law allowing euthanasia here was revoked in the not too distant future. But now I’m getting too political
Great review Marisa and it’s certainly a film I want to see!
Comment by suzero — Fri November 26, 2004 @ 8:59This film sounds a lot like the 1981 movie, ” Who’s Life is it Anyway?”, starring Richard Dreyfuss. As far as I know, that film, was not based on a true story, but this still doesn’t take a way from it’s impact. I remember at the time it came out how much press it got in the USA due to the controversy that was, then, just beginning over this topic.
I think the biggest irony about this movie (Mar Adentro) being released soon after the death of such a high profile person as Christopher Reeve is that it’s case for the pro euthanasia camp is perhaps weakened. Reeve was certainly one who fought for not only his right to live, but to live with dignity as a quadriplegic who refused to accept his situation as a permanent condition. Although I, personally, believe in the right of the individual to make all decisions about their own body for themselves, it is imaginable that those who would deny this right to others, due to their own personal belief in the God of their choice, would hold Reeve up as an example to support their own cause. This is compounded with an even greater irony that largely the same people who would refuse a person the right to die with dignity; are often the same people who are against continued stem cell research, based on the same logic (or lack there of) that would deny a person trapped in an effectively dead body the chance to escape the mental and physical pain they experience in such circumstances
On a more movie like note: I like Javier Bardem a lot. He’s one of the best actors around right now. He has this tremendous ability to completely transform himself with every new role.
Comment by denise — Sat November 27, 2004 @ 9:32I saw this one on the big screen last Friday and it was amazing. Bardem is incredibly credible and the entire film has amazing acting performances. I was more appealed by it than by Les Invasions Barbares, that deals with a similar subject. This one will be Spain’s candidate for the Oscars and it stands a pretty good chance of at least getting nominated (the dutch entry Simon won’t, although it was a good and moving film)… I also loved the flying scenes and the overall camerawork
Comment by arjan — Sun December 12, 2004 @ 8:17nah it suked
Comment by hello dude — Wed September 6, 2006 @ 2:14