Vulgar

I had the privilege of attending the premiere of "Vulgar", the debut feature film from talented young director Santiago Rivero. Intrigued by the boldness of Rivero's vision, I recently watched the film a second time and found it even more compelling on a repeat viewing.

"Vulgar" is an unflinching exploration of desire, morality, and the complexities of human relationships. Rivero demonstrates a keen insight into his richly drawn characters, gradually revealing their true selves as they navigate life-altering experiences.

The performances are outstanding across the board, but Gabriel Agüero and Katrina Kreile are particularly riveting as the film's leads. Their sexually charged scenes together crackle with an almost dangerous electricity. Agüero brings a brooding intensity while allowing glimpses of boyish vulnerability. Kreile is a revelation as a woman discovering her power and sensuality. The dynamic between them propels the film's emotional journey.

Rivero's direction is remarkably self-assured for a first-time filmmaker. With an intimate visual style and deliberate pacing, he immerses us in the characters' world. The evocative cinematography and sound design create an authentically raw and palpable atmosphere.

The film's erotic elements are provocative yet integral to the characters' arcs. These "spicy scenes", as aptly described by another reviewer, lay bare the characters' transformations as they confront passion, pain, innocence and experience.

I must highlight the exquisite score by composer Antoni Mairata. His hauntingly beautiful compositions heighten the film's simmering tensions and emotional resonance. The music is so impactful, it feels like a character itself.

"Vulgar" announces the arrival of a bold new cinematic voice in Santiago Rivero. It's an absorbing, fearless work that sparks contemplation long after the credits roll. Rivero has crafted a challenging film that inspires passionate discussions and devotion from those who connect with its raw honesty. I eagerly await this gifted young filmmaker's next project.

There are bad movies, and then there are movies so terrible that they make you question how they ever got funded. This particular film falls into the latter category. From start to finish, it is an absolute mess of nonsensical storytelling, crude humor, and characters so poorly written that they feel more like caricatures than real people. The script is not only illogical but also completely disconnected from reality, making it impossible to take anything seriously.

The biggest problem is the writing. It's as if the filmmakers had no clear vision of what they wanted to achieve. Scenes are strung together with no coherence, characters make decisions that defy common sense, and the dialogue is painfully awkward. At times, it seems like the movie is attempting to be edgy, but instead, it just comes across as immature and desperate for attention. Vulgar jokes and crude language are thrown in not because they serve any purpose, but because the writers apparently mistook shock value for humor.

For a low budget film this project didn't fail to impress. The coloring, sound quality, use of music definitely was high quality and professional. Music accompanies Angelicas emotions and journey very well.

This movie will make you feel and rethink your current life. Emotions I felt during the movie: Angelicas character was very relatable, self-pity (feeling sorry for letting myself being in very similar situations and doing nothing about it), wish to embrace my authenticity and stop putting myself in a cage of principles that I made for myself in order to make others happy, wanting to drastically change something in my life. Overall felt like the movie was made about my current relationship and I think that many others could relate as well. "Are you gonna join or judge?" - really stays in my mind after this movie.

If you match this target audience, you should see it: couples that feel stuck or feel like they've lost the spark, women in toxic relationships to feel empowered, women that feel like they are "doormats", people pleasers, people that enjoy untraditional latvian movies.