Take My Eyes
There have been a number of films made about domestic violence but none with the skill of Take My Eyes. The film won five Goya awards in Spain in 2004 but is just now having a very limited release in the US.
Pilar and Antonio have been married for nine years and have a son. When the film starts we see Pilar and her son Juan leaving their apartment. She is going to live with her sister Ana because she can no longer take the physical and mental abuse that Antonio has been inflicting on her.
When Ana goes back to Pilar's apartment to get a few more things she sees hospital records that prove Pilar was abused. Although Ana begs Pilar to leave Antonio for good their mother begs to differ. She thinks it is better to have a man, any man, then to be alone. We later find out that she was also an abused wife.
Antonio works as an appliance salesman in the family business. He is very resentful of the fact that this is his lot in life. He suffers from an inferiority complex and is frothing with anger. He takes all of his frustrations out on Pilar. He is trying to sort things out and is going for therapy. He has privates sessions and is also in a group. The scenes in which the group of men give the reasons their partners deseve abuse are very interesting and revolting at the same time. I read that domestic violence is quite prevalent in Spain and I think that is one reason that this film made such an impact over there.
In the meantime, Pilar takes a job at a museum and starts to come into her own. However, slowly but surely Antonio wins her back. He is like a drug that is hard to kick. This leads to a rift between the two sisters. There is a very powerful lovemaking scene in which Pilar tells Antonio to take her eyes, take her breasts, etc. It seems that he must possess her body and soul in order for him to be happy.
Pilar has a chance of getting a tour guide at the museum and this excites her very much. In order to get the job she must successfully take a group in Madrid to a museum. This infuriates the jealous Antonio and he puts her through the ultimate in humiliation. I will not say what he does or what happens next because someone reading this might see the film and I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone.
Iciar Bollain does a fine job directing the film. It is many notches above the films on this subject that we have seen in the past. Luis Tosar is excellent as Antonio. Although he is a real bully we can't help but feel a bit sorry for him because he really hates himself so much. But, the real revelation here is Laia Murull as Pilar. I have seen many Spanish films but I am not familiar with her. Her performance really tore at my heart. Her pain and fear were so real that they jump right off the screen. It is easy to see why she won a Goya for this film.
This film is a highly realistic, powerful portrait of a problem that is rampant in our society. Most people will not see this film in the theaters because it is a small, foreign film. But, I would urge people to find it when it comes out on DVD (I am sure that Netflix will have it) because it is very worth while.
Pilar and Antonio have been married for nine years and have a son. When the film starts we see Pilar and her son Juan leaving their apartment. She is going to live with her sister Ana because she can no longer take the physical and mental abuse that Antonio has been inflicting on her.
When Ana goes back to Pilar's apartment to get a few more things she sees hospital records that prove Pilar was abused. Although Ana begs Pilar to leave Antonio for good their mother begs to differ. She thinks it is better to have a man, any man, then to be alone. We later find out that she was also an abused wife.
Antonio works as an appliance salesman in the family business. He is very resentful of the fact that this is his lot in life. He suffers from an inferiority complex and is frothing with anger. He takes all of his frustrations out on Pilar. He is trying to sort things out and is going for therapy. He has privates sessions and is also in a group. The scenes in which the group of men give the reasons their partners deseve abuse are very interesting and revolting at the same time. I read that domestic violence is quite prevalent in Spain and I think that is one reason that this film made such an impact over there.
In the meantime, Pilar takes a job at a museum and starts to come into her own. However, slowly but surely Antonio wins her back. He is like a drug that is hard to kick. This leads to a rift between the two sisters. There is a very powerful lovemaking scene in which Pilar tells Antonio to take her eyes, take her breasts, etc. It seems that he must possess her body and soul in order for him to be happy.
Pilar has a chance of getting a tour guide at the museum and this excites her very much. In order to get the job she must successfully take a group in Madrid to a museum. This infuriates the jealous Antonio and he puts her through the ultimate in humiliation. I will not say what he does or what happens next because someone reading this might see the film and I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone.
Iciar Bollain does a fine job directing the film. It is many notches above the films on this subject that we have seen in the past. Luis Tosar is excellent as Antonio. Although he is a real bully we can't help but feel a bit sorry for him because he really hates himself so much. But, the real revelation here is Laia Murull as Pilar. I have seen many Spanish films but I am not familiar with her. Her performance really tore at my heart. Her pain and fear were so real that they jump right off the screen. It is easy to see why she won a Goya for this film.
This film is a highly realistic, powerful portrait of a problem that is rampant in our society. Most people will not see this film in the theaters because it is a small, foreign film. But, I would urge people to find it when it comes out on DVD (I am sure that Netflix will have it) because it is very worth while.
posted by Film Fanatic | 5:50 PM
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