Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Little Ashes 2008

      In 1922, Madrid is on the edge of change as traditional values are challenged by the dangerous new influences of jazz, Freud and the avant-garde.  Salvador Dali arrives at the university, he is 18 years old and determined to become a great artist.  His blend of shyness and exhibitionism attracts the attention of two of the university's social elite.  Federico Garcia Lorca and Luis Bunel.  Salvador is invited into their youthfully decadent group.  For or a time Salvador, Luis and Federico become a formidable trio, the most ultra-modern group in Madrid.  As time passes, Salvador feels an increasingly strong pull towards the charismatic Federico.  He is unaware of the attentions he is getting from his beautiful writer friend, Magdalena.

     In the face of the preoccupations of his friends plus the growing the renown as a poet of Frederico, Luis sets off for Paris in search of his own artistic success.  Federico and Salvador spend the holiday in the sea-side town of Cadaques.  Both the idyllic surroundings and the warmth of the Dali family sweep Federico off of his feet.  Salvador and Frederico draw closer, sharing their deepest beliefs, inspirations and secrets.  They are convinced that they have found a new kind of love not dreamed of by others.  It is more than a meeting of the minds, it is a fusion of souls.
 

     Even though this drama stars Twilight star Robert Pattinson, it is a mature film for mature audiences.  It deals with sexual exploration and suppressed homosexual behavior in a restrictive society.  Scenes depict sex, homosexual awakening, full nudity, bare breasts and self gratification.  There's also strong language, references to bodily functions and sexual slurs directed at homosexuals.  Several violent scenes show death by firing squad, the beating of a gay man, authentic wartime footage with dead bodies and a graphic close-up shot of an eye being sliced!!!  All of this onslaught is a bit much for the intake of my mind!!  2* (I didn’t like this movie)


112 min, Biography directed by Paul Morrison and written by Philippa Goslett with Javier Beltran, Robert Pattinson, Matthew McNulty, Marina Gatell, Bruno Oro, Esther Nubiola, Marc Pujol, Arly Jover, Simon Andreu, Vicky Pena, Ruben Arroyo, Diana Gomez, Pep Sais Joan Pico.


Note:  Imdb 6.4* out of 10* with 8700 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 24% with 70 critics 49% with 79,214 audience scores, empireonline.com 3* out of 5* Helen O’Hara, Roger Ebert 3*, The Guardian 2* out of 5* Xan Brooks, Common Sense Media Renee Schonfeld, 3* out of 5*, age 17+, 2* positive messages, 3* violence, language, drinking, drugs & smoking, 5* sex.

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