The Extraordinary Tale of the Times Table

My first review on this website I wanted to dedicate it to the movie I liked most at the Malaga Film Festival, where nobody understood that it returned with "only" two awards. This is The Extraordinary Tale, a Spanish film despite its title that can be described as a black comedy that tells the surreal and original story of a couple since they meet till they have their first child. A roller coaster of emotions. At first the energy of the film engages with you and leaves you in ecstasy, but gradually the movie will give a new feeling, it could be described as discomfort. Many may think that this part of the film is a fall of rhythm, but it shows that it is totally intended, as in downs of a roller coaster, it takes your breath away in the next unexpected rise, because as we approach the end, our nerves are increasingly tightening, we can not even breathe, the humor with which we laughed at the beginning freezes into a mixture of sensations, all unpleasant, to reach its unexpected and brutal end. In the film In The House it is said that after a good ending the viewer thinks "I didn't expect it, but could not be otherwise". Just the way we think when we watch this cruel and wonderful fairy tale.

One star for the set design, beautiful and perfect for this film. One star for styling, which was in keeping with the set and wonderfully quirky. One star for the beginning, as the film was quick to draw you in and inspire your interest.

Unfortunately this is where I run out of stars. I think this film was about the connections between our relationships and our needs, and the importance of understanding one another. Maybe it was just about how some of us are not built or designed to do life like others around us, and if we want to stop screaming we need to stop trying to be square pegs in round holes. Or trying to make everyone the same shape.

Maybe. The lighting went from bright to dark to reflect the characters' mood and changing circumstances and it felt a bit sixth form project. Nothing wrong with sixth form projects, but that sense of amateurishness was alienating and I was bored for the vast majority. It was too long for the pace of the story and dragged. There was a lot of potential here but perhaps it tried to be too clever and ended up not being great to watch.