A cielo abierto

We all loved 21 Grams (2003), Babel (2006), and Amores Perros (2000) because, beyond being well-crafted productions, they boasted screenplays that told extraordinary stories.

And this film is written by Guillermo Arriaga, the screenwriter of those three masterpieces. What's more, the film is directed by his own children, Mariana Arriaga and Santiago Arriaga.

And yet, the film is a cinematic tragedy, a waste of its potential. Guillermo Arriaga has previously delivered films that hit you like a punch to the gut, leaving you with a lump in your throat. He aimed for something similar here, but the directorial choices are so dreadful that the film, instead of leaving you speechless, repels you.

Oddly enough, I discovered this film through Spotify, as the score is by Ludovico Einaudi, and the soundtrack album was released after the film's screening at the Venice Film Festival. The general release was delayed for various reasons. As a fan of Spanish cinema, my excitement reached a fever pitch when I learned who the screenwriter was. But haven't 2023 and 2024 already been years of dashed expectations for cinephiles who placed their faith in beloved names?

For me, this film falls squarely into that category.