Vuelve

In the middle of nowhere there is an old monastery, where a boy lives with his parents. His beloved mother is unstable and commits suicide, his father is aloof. At the same time, the real mother of the boy is approaching, but without success...

This is a magnificent, unique film about the torments of a young teenage boy, combined with elements of myth, roots of fairy tales, dream, and incredibly good music. Images and sequences like Caravaggio-paintings.

When you'd ask me how to compare this film, the answer would be really difficult. Trying a personal, clumsy, incomplete answer: Imagine a mixture of some images resulting from Thomas Mann's greatest novels (Buddenbrooks, The Magic Mountain) + the sinister parts of "Fanny and Alexander" by Ingmar Bergman + minor touches of "The Tree of Life" by Terrence Malick + some sketches of da Vinci ...

Mr. Noel has created a new masterpiece, after 'En Tu Ausencia' and 'Brecha'. Noel is probably the most attention attracting Spanish cinematographer of the present. His movies are subtle, sensitive and both storyline, camera-work and music are astonishing. Astonishing too is the fact that all this,- story, music and camera -, are works of his own hand. Nevertheless his movies are made with an extremely low budget due to both lack of finance and of recognition. I wonder how long it will take before Art-house lovers will realize that there is a new Spanish master in our midst. 'Vuelve' is highly recommended (and so are his previous films).

Excellent thriller with moments of supreme drama, spectacular performances. Exceptional music, photography ... all whole and yet is beautiful dark. Ivan Noel as he usually does to its magnificent productions, which combines situations, images, music, all in a singular excellence. With a superb script, keeps us all looking forward the movie. Great performances from the smallest detail with beautiful places. Once again the genius of director through the screen to the spectator and have him caught from start to finish. A thriller that lovers of director movies not to be missed. Taken with the difficult issues Myor naturality and care. Simply brilliant.

The title, Vuelve, means come back or (he or she) comes back. The storyline: a couple, Sofía and Gregorio live with their son Gabriel in a large property, formerly a convent near the town of Jesus María, Córdoba province. Sofia is mentally disturbed; she suffers of Cotard's syndrome (defined in the initial screen). Gabriel, who is very attached to his mother begins to shows signs of mental deterioration too. The situation is worsened by Gregorio's discovery that he has not clear rights to the property and faces the possibility of expropriation and eviction.

The movie begins auspiciously. It lays out subtly an atmosphere of dread and anxiety. Unfortunately, it veers into horror movie territory near the end. There also inconsistencies in the script (by the director). It is not understandable that Gregorio should leave his child, unsupervised in exclusive care of his mother and then alone. Gregorio seems to take care of a vast building on vast grounds with only one gardener and no domestic help. And so on.

On the positive side, cinematography (by the director) is good, very good in some scenes. Acting is good as well and music (by the director) is unobtrusive and fits the action. On the whole, however, a disappointing movie.

Fascinating! Intriguing movie where you get lost in the character's mind. Incredible level of photography, as he usually does the director. A film that takes you to travel through all the senses. It goes from one extreme to another making you feel a sense of tenderness to darkness rarely experienced. In my humble opinion, a truly remarkable work, which, to be an independent production has nothing to envy, and is at the level to compete with any "big production". The music ... what, Ivan Noel ... is a kind of genius unrecognized?. I really could not believe when I read the title, if one person can achieve this level of quality. Obviously at this point I'm not being very objective, but this is a credit to director, producer, composer and who knows how many more thing God. Please ... when more movies are coming Ivan Noel???