Waiting for Dali

"Esperando a Dalí" is a wonderful example of the traditional European cinema, which comes around so rarely these days. It got all of it - admirable characters, human passion, soft humor, and the best of all - wonderful atmosphere.

The movie plot is not very original, there were plenty of "high cuisine" films in recent years, but it is merely an excuse to introduce the characters and set the scenery. You pretty much know what to expect and what the ending will be, but it does not change for a bit the enjoyment of watching.

José Garcia is doing a wonderful job by portraying passionate, partially eccentric (like Dali himself), obsessed with idea, yet not disconnected from reality, restaurant owner Jules. Such characters need to be played with fine tune to remain believable and José Garcia succeeds with gusto.

Every other character got great fit as well, but it worth to bring out Clara Ponsot as Lola. Nowadays, when the expression "strong independent female character" became almost a synonym for a "b..tch", it is so nice to see beautiful and direct person instead.

So spend two hours smiling, relaxing and enjoying this wonderful movie.

What a wonderful treat! Throughout the two hours of this film the viewer is treated to unending enchanting music and scenery. A plot that blends realism and fantasy in a most delicious way. Characters that are both believable yet just a bit otherworldly.

Fans of Salvador Dali will enjoy this quirky and tangential tribute through the life of the main character, a restaurateur who dreams of the artist's visit to his establishment.

The local charm and ways of the Mediterranean village is an absolute delight. Set in 1974, there is a backdrop of political unrest which sets the plot and characters in motion.

The humor is warm and sophisticated. Emotions are strongly felt and realistically portrayed. If you are like us, you will want to watch this movie over again.

Amazing movie, sooo beautifully made, written and thought.

Not a single moment of boredom, not a single "cliché", and in no way gross, clumsy or awkward.

At the same time, simple and subtle.

No actor falls into the trap of the exaggeration. Special accolade to Jose Garcia, whose character could have rapidly turned him into a charmless caricature. On the opposite, he delivers a fantastic performance, carrying the movie into his own obsession about Dali, in an energic and delicate way at the same time.

All the main characters are very well crafted and, together with a great acting and a great script, it creates a joyfull and very pleasant atmosphere all along the movie.

Only one possible comment for this piece of art: CONGRATULATIONS.

This movie invites comparison with the rather disappointing 1969 "Picasso Summer," which was also about going to the picturesque environs of a legendary painter in hopes of meeting him. But this time instead of a rather boring couple, we have some feisty revolutionaries on the run from the law. There are beautiful young women too, and it may be my fault (I was watching the subtitles) but I didn't fully understand the relationships between the men and the women until suddenly they became important late in the movie. I'd thought it was enough to follow the attempts at meeting Dali, and I found the on-and-offness of that quest abrupt and repetitive. The movie does capture the sad emptiness separating Dali's world of imagination (or anyone's) and our material reality. Once or twice, I saw Dali on TV once or twice during his lifetime and I remember that failure to embody his own vision in his own being.

You came home after a stressful day and want to empty your head? Then join the club.

They made the perfect movie for such nights. It is a heart-warming easy to watch movie without any kind of mystery, tragedy or anything similar that would upset you even more.

Of course it is not a masterpiece and nobody expects it to be. Simple story, great acting and the vast blue of Mediterranean sea...

Since I am no expert movie critic, I'm not able to determine what inspires it, but there is always some warmth in Spanish movies. They deliver you a feeling as if you could have known these people or that you had been a neighbour living around the corner. Is it the acting? I don't know what but I like it.