Amours cannibales

"Cannibal" summons to mind vague storyline similarities with Patrice Leconte's moody 1990 film "Monsieur Hire" and James Hamilton- Paterson's roman a clef "Loving Monsters."

Protagonist Carlos is a revered tailor in Granada, Spain, who murders and cannibalizes beautiful young women, and ostensibly does so in a way unencumbered by sadism or sexuality. His monotonic cannibalism is never explained, and left as metaphorical vehicle. Horror is not on offer here, and viewers are left free to imbue Carlos's predilection with personal meaning: in other ways, Carlos is fair, just, and honorable. Do even the very best among us have equally abhorrent gaping erroneous zones?

Romanian actress Olimpia Melinte's fresh-faced, highly-abled and confident screen presence work well in two roles here. Mise en scene, vistas and pacing are lovely, and the languid takes, the confident exposition, the story's ability to achieve both enormity and enormousness with an economy of lines and set-ups, make "Cannibal" well worth immersing in.

This is a good movie and it does not deserve the current low rating. I will not repeat what most before me have already said. However, I am adding my small comment just for some of the American audience who is used to the Hollywood clichés and can't comprehend that a film, yes a film not a movie, can actually venture in the realm of psychology. For those who are looking for horror, blood and cheap action thrillers look somewhere else.

This film is a deliberately slow and aesthetic act of seduction that introduces the audience into the transformation of the main character, Carlos. Cuenca carefully hides the monstrousness of his main character and carefully shapes an unexpected outcome.

"Cannibal" (2013 release from Spain; 117 min.) brings the story of Carlos, a well-respected tailor for the 1% in Grenada at day, but a cold-blooded murderer and cannibal at night. As the movie opens, we see a couple at a gas station and when they drive away, Carlos follows them, and causes their car to crash. He takes the woman with him, and does what he does. Carlos has a lovely new neighbor in his building, a Romanian girl named Alexandra who moved to Spain with her sister Nina to make money and support their parents financially back home. When Alexandra also "is disappeared" by Carlos, Nina comes looking for her sister. To tell you more would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

Couple of comments: first and foremost, don't be fooled by or intimidated by the movie's title. This is MILES away from "Silence of the Lambs" and its sequels, as this is NOT a horror movie or an action movie. Yes there are several harrowing scenes in it, but the focus of the movie is on a much deeper level, namely how one man can find himself in this position and just when you think you've figured him out, you are taken into a new direction. Second, kudos to director Manuel Martín Cuenca, whose previous movies (including "Malas temporadas" and "The Weakness of the Bolshevik" are now on my "want-to-see-badly" list. Third, the pacing of the moving is glacier-like, and I mean this as a complement. Check out the opening scene at the gas station, which takes several minutes and the camera doesn't change angles or zooms in, it simply lets you take it all in (this comes back a number of times in the movie). In keeping with the deliberate slow pace, there equally is no musical score for the movie (the only occasional music we hear is from the radio in Carlos' tailor shop). Last but certainly not least, the 2 main actors, Antonio de la Torre as Carlos and Olimpia Melinte in the dual role of Alexandra and Nina, give towering performances which will stay with you long after you've seen the movie.

"Cannibal" is the June, 2014 release in Film Movement's DVD-of-the-Month Club, and the DVD will become generally available to the public later this yea. As is usually the case, the DVD comes with a bonus shortie, and this month we get "Ogre" (18 min., from France), about a heavy-set man who encounters an all-too-kind young lady at the beach. Equally worth checking out! Meanwhile, "Cannibal" is a fantastic addition to Film Movement's ever-growing library of foreign and indie movies. HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This is an incredible story that you can't miss if you like movies with deep emotions that will make you tremble about the idea of love and death. The actors are mysterious and the story starts with very surprising images that will make you be prepare to close your eyes for anything that could lead you a possible trauma, but nothing happen but stunning takes and surprising twists. The photography is amazing and you can't take your eyes out of the screen enjoying the views. Initially, the main character is cold and it can feel quite intimidating. But while the story keeps running forwards, you can feel even like you where in their skins. The passion between the characters may not be seen at first, but it's obvious at the end, and it can make you even cry of despair. The loneliness in this movie is very important and without it the film would be meaningless. The emotions of the people involve are represented in beautiful takes. There's few sounds of music in the background but this makes the movie more dark and realistic. This movie explain despair and the possession of the body with the most original way that you can imagine.

Very good movie. Strong and deep acting of Antonio de la Torre. As usual. A very good script, very artistic and disturbingly aesthetic. Because there is not a lot of things going on story wise it seems like a psychological study of the character. You are almost wanting this monstrous man to get away with what he does and ultimately find happiness. You are going to be rooting for a sociopath.... For a psychopath. Very intriguing about the Human nature and behavior...