Tres días

Because of a "friend of a friend" I had the opportunity to see this new Spanish movie produced by Antonio Banderas and directed by Francisco Javier Gutierrez in the last Berlin International Film Festival. I have to confess that I'm not "catastrophe's movies friendly" but this film really surprised me. The movie is about the world ending in 3 days due to the imminent fall of a meteorite, however it actually focuses more on people's behaviour in a small town in the south of Spain which causes the audience to ask themselves "what would you do in your last 3 days of life?, would you try to enjoy your last moments or just take the chance to take revenge against the people you hate?. Good question.

I previously knew of director Francisco J. Gutierrez for his short film "Brasil" which was award winning in several festivals around the world. It is quite common to see young directors start and finish their professional life with an original and "short-life-short-film", but on this occasion Francisco J. really used the money in the right way. 3 days holds your attention from the beginning to the end, the characters are very real and really remind you of the people in your neighbourhood or office. Also the rhythm is correct and the photography just fantastic. From my point of view, a new cinema age is starting in Spain and "Before the Fall" is an example of it. Well done.

I personally cherish a vast fascination for apocalyptic-themed Sci-Fi & horror movies and have seen a truckload of titles in this style, but I can honestly state I have never seen anything quite like Javier Guttierez' "Before the Fall". It's one of the most emotionally unsettling, uniquely structured, unpretentiously honest and hauntingly beautiful movies I've ever seen in my life. "Before the Fall" isn't just a movie about an all-devastating meteorite; this is a movie about choices, personal sacrifices, unconditional devotion, persistence and even a tiny sparkle of hope. The vast majority of "the-end-is-near" movies deal with trying to find a method to prevent the apocalypse from happening and/or focus on a small group of people as they are preparing a new beginning for after the complete destruction. Guttierez' film – deeply impressive for a long feature debut – makes it pretty clear and irrefutable that there isn't any chance left of avoiding or surviving the Armageddon. The fade has been determined and everyone's doomed, but this magnificent parable handles about HOW to spend those precious last numbered days. This concept is utmost simplistic and straightforward but actually I haven't seen it in any other movie ever before, so even that "Before the Fall" is similar to a whole list of movies, it constantly feels original and courageous. The governments of all nations in the world one morning announce that a large meteorite will inevitably collide with earth in three days. They knew it longer already, but waited with the announcement in order to avoid anarchy, mass-hysteria and chaos as much as possible. That quickly turns out a wise decision, as anarchy, mass-hysteria and chaos are the only things ensuing after the announcement. The plot follows Ale, a small town carpenter who still lives with his mother and is generally regarded as a lazy and non-ambitious lowlife. Ale always lived in the shadows of his older brother Thomas, who became an immortal hero after helping to capture a notorious child murderer 15 years ago. Thomas is now successful, married and the father of four children. Immediately after the announcement of the upcoming apocalypse, riots in prison cause all criminals to escape, including the child murderer. Ale's mother is convinced the killer wants revenge against Thomas, but since he and his wife are abroad, she begs Ale to accompany her and protect the children. Ale is reluctant to spend existence's final three days babysitting, but gradually changes his mind as he notices the threat of the child killer is for real and because his nieces and nephews are still unaware of the imminent apocalypse. "Before the Fall" unfolds as a tragic drama, then converts into a highly exciting action-thriller and then eventually converts back into a tragic drama. Throughout the entire middle section, when Ale is trying to safeguard the children from a potential serial killer, the suspense and ambiance are so intense that you almost forget the Armageddon is approaching as well. Ale fights a battle to protect the kids and survive himself as well … only to die all together a couple of days later. As a viewer you constantly know this, but still you support and hope for Ale and the kids to remain alive as long as possible and even longer. "Before the Fall" is an enchanting, beautiful and thought-provoking movie with stupendous acting performances, chilling music and breath-taking filming locations. Careful sensitive viewers, as the movie also contains a handful of confronting bits of harsh violence, graphic bloodshed and nihilistic carnage. Easily the most overwhelming and dazzlingly brilliant movie I've seen in the past years; nothing short of a masterpiece.

The 72 hours before a comet strikes is just enough time to launch a cult film about the struggle of good versus evil. This film may not go far with the Euro-Film-Fest Seventh-Art crowd, but it will definite have legs to stand on for a long time.

3 Días or Three Days (US title) or Before the Fall, (international title), examines the actions of a man stressed almost to the breaking point by outrageous fortune. It is directed by F Javier Guttiérez, and written by him and Juan Velarde. This is a period of three days before the end of the world, in a small town in Spain. What would the general population do if they knew the Earth would be destroyed in three days? You'll have to do most of the imagining yourself, because the film only gives a glance at what is happening in the outside world. This film focuses on one man's efforts to save his family from evil of others in the microcosmic environment of an isolated area of the Spanish interior.

The film is very well made, but the philosophical incongruities of this film's premise undercut the experience for me. It is an odd study of human nature, that this man has no time to ponder his own life, his own personal disappointments and philosophy, but must spend the last 72 hours of existence in this primitive struggle against evil. However, despite the peculiarity and perhaps improbable behavior of the protagonist, it is filmed with subtlety. The land seems timeless, the sun searingly close and the wind explosive. The direction is also excellent, not only for the major characters but for everyone that comes before the camera, and the people are dangerous and inscrutable and very cinematic. In keeping with the apocalyptic theme, there are some bloody scenes, though none are particularly gruesome. The scenes of violence against young children, however, are difficult to take.

Victor Clavijo plays the part of Alejandro with amazing energy and emotional involvement. This is acting that is worthy of award attention, but although the film was considered in the pre-selection for the European Film Awards in 2008, it did not make it to the final round. It is the kind of acting that usually gets ignored at the European Film Awards: physicality and pathos don't play well across the European cultural divide. It was also produced by Antonio Banderas, an important figure in international cinema with the smell of Hollywood about him, not exactly considered an eau de cologne at EFA. Add to that its aura of genre film, kind of sci-fi, fantasy and El Mariachi cultish. It is easy to see why the film has been totally ignored for EFA awards in 2008.

The screenplay, written by the director Guttiérez and Juan Velarde, won the Best First Screenplay award at the Málaga Film Festival, and that, I would say, is about as far as the awards should go for this script, since the script is probably one of the weakest elements here. It effectively sets up the situation and develops the tension in an exciting way, but there are the usual lapses of logic that occur when a European auteur film has not gone through a thorough review. Who are the violent criminals in the early scenes? Why does the grandmother wander away? Why would the children accept this situation without question? These are irritating problems that could have easily been fixed with some more careful scripting.

In general, it is a satisfying genre film, an action-slash-slasher film in an unusual setting, and it serves to introduce Clavijo, a well known Spanish TV actor, to the international cinema. Though it is not my cup of tea, I think this film will continue to attract viewers for years to come as it spreads beyond Europe just below the radar.

I saw this movie in Espoo Cine (Helsinki). I'm still in shock. I really love it. I have never seen something like this. It's truly different, risky and original. A strange and hypnotic mix of genres (Sci-fi, thriller, horror, fantasy, drama), so well done, so powerful, so visual, so artistic, so straight, so special. Hard and tender at the same time. Yes, hard because of some intense sequences (there are some really controversial, violent, realistic and uncomfortable moments) but also moving and touching (this movie touches you something deep inside). Yes, this strange film is really hard on the surface but warm and tender under it (as the main character of the story). It's a rare, original and unusual tale of fears, love, pain and humanity. Since the moment it finished (with brave, brilliant and artistic shot full of sadness and beauty) I knew it: It's different, it's special, it's "unique".

This is a mix of drama, thrills , terror and end of world doom and gloom ; add to that a really magnificent cast . The world learns that a planet killing meteorite will arrive in 72 hours . A giant meteorite is about to collide with Earth, and horrible events spread across the planet , then there emerging panic as well as creepy and eerie happenings happen . The planet is gripped by despair , destruction , massacre and chaos. The inhabitants of the little town of Laguna listen to theTV news in terror . One of them is Ale (Víctor Clavijo) who lives with his mother (Mariana Cordero) and her four grandsons . Later on , Ale to take care of the children . Then , Lucio (Eduard Fernández) , a weird and suspect individual shows up and things go wrong .

The horror and action moments are fast moving and compactly realized . Gory and spooky terror/sci-Fi film is entertaining for fans of the genre . The main premise turns out the be the following : What would you do if the world was going to end in 72 hours? This exciting picture contains intense drama , thrills, chills , graphic violence ,and action-filled . This is an effective and simple movie ; it results to be an acceptable Spanish horror , including functional special effects realized in traditional style, including brief C.G. The picture results to be interesting and thought-provoking because of his rich analysis of human morality in the context of extreme conditions . The creepy images of wide range from the genuinely horrifying to the bizarre along with scary and amazing frames . It is a great roller-coaster ride, from beginning to end , though action and terror really starts when a rare role show up . Victor Clavijo gives a very good acting as a young decides to spend his last days shut away, getting drunk and listening to music, but his schemes change when he is forced to protect his brother's children. As well as Eduard Fernández as an ambiguous, disturbing stranger . It packs suspenseful and thrilling musical score by Antonio Meliveo . And colorful and glimmer cinematography by Miguel Ángel Mora .

In 2007, Gutiérrez received an offer from Antonio Banderas and Antonio P. Pérez to write and direct his first feature film, Before the Fall (2008). The film premiered at the official section "Special Panorama" at the Berlin Film Festival and gained traction in Europe. He also directed a piece for the series Diminutos del Calvario II. Gutiérrez's piece, La habitación de Norman (Norman's Room), a claustrophobic tribute to Hitchcock's Psycho, was praised by film fan magazines and websites in the United States. And he founded in 2001 his own Film Production Company: "Dr. T Producciones Cinematograficas, S.L.". Subsequently , he made the successful ¨Rings¨ (2017) . This ¨Tres días¨ had several awards : Goya Awards 2009 Winner Goya Best Sound . Málaga Spanish Film Festival 2008 (Mejor Sonido) Winner Best First Screenplay F. Javier Gutiérrez ,Juan Velarde Winner Golden Biznaga F. Javier Gutiérrez , Winner Silver Biznaga Best Supporting Actress : Mariana Cordero and Best Make-Up . Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain 2009 Winner CEC Award Best Editing Nacho Ruiz Capillas , CEC Award Best Cinematography Miguel Ángel Mora . Sci-Fi Channel Audience Award and Jury's Special Mention in the Nantes International Science-Fiction Festival (France). Best Feature Film Award in the Trieste International Science-Fiction Film Festival (Italy) . Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival 2009 Winner Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Silver F. Javier Gutiérrez .Screamfest 2009 was Winner Festival Trophy Best Actor: Víctor Clavijo , Best Cinematography: Miguel Ángel Mora , Best Director : F. Javier Gutiérrez, Best Editing : Nacho Ruiz Capillas . And the movie was #3 in the 2008 International Watch List, the list of the best foreign movies of the year elaborated by Hollywood studio executives every year.