La trincea infinita

This movie delicately captures how humans who are governed by fear not only rendered helpless, but are also transformed to alien versions of their former selves. What are the enduring repercussions of civil wars and dictatorships? What does life mean under these conditions? Is life a mere survival or do we stop living once our souls and spirits are crushed? Does a crushed soul and a defeated person stand a chance of living again? Can love survive military dictatorships?

This movie is an attempt to address all of these questions and its take is moving, heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time!

The story is set in Spanish Civil War time. A man is trying to escape from Nationalists in a village in Andalusia. His strategy is to hide. In the town there are doubts about where he is hidden, people suspect. Not only Higinio suffers his persecution, but his wife, Rosa, has to face many difficult moments. The setting of that time is perfect, also clothing and language. It is slow and long. It lacks emotion and intensity. 147 minutes are excessive for the story itself.

Movies that are quite claustrophobic are not easy to watch. I had no idea where this was going and while it is confined, it also is showing and going places. The acting is grand even in a closed setting. I can't even begin to imagine what a person goes through. And not just physically but also psychologically, which you can see and feel the effects towards the end.

Spanish language thrillers are quite something and if you like the genre, then you probably will have an idea what they are able to do. There is not much of a story here, this is about a setting and an evolution. It is about society and about human survival, even when it doesn't seem like living at all. Many great ideas, a lot of sexual encounters (violent and otherwise too, hard to watch - no pun intended and not trying to make light of many of the situations) and quite draining to watch to say the least ... but very well done

This is a beautifully written, directed and acted little film. The script is very original, parabola like and very sweet. It's a timeless wonderful little gem.

The film deals with multiple issues including the psychological effects of isolation, the relationship consequences, trauma of rape, and childhood problems as a result of parental illness. I was initially put off by the length of the film, but it needed this length in order to fully develop the themes. This is one of the few long films that I've seen in which the length of the film was justified.