Inconscientes

I saw this at Sundance and enjoyed it very much. It is a clever farce involving physical comedy as well as satire. The main target of the movie appears to be Freud, but there are other psychoanalysis jokes as well. For me, the performances of Luis Tosar and Leonor Watling made the movie sparkle. The two of them have chemistry that transcends language. The dialog was fast paced and the script was smart and crisp. The two leads find themselves in increasingly goofy situations until the final climax where the mystery is solved. I think that this was the best of the 12 films I saw at Sundance this year, and I am hoping that the DVD comes out soon so I can see it again! (This is not a movie for kids; perhaps older teens will enjoy it. It is in Spanish with subtitles, so those who do not like to read subtitles be warned)

This is the story of a woman (Alma) and a man (Salvador), who are sister&brother in law, who try to find Alma's husband (Leon) through Leon's psychiatry thesis. Firstly the movie has a real great package, it is really great fun to watch all the things to resolve, it does not bore the viewer so one can stay focused easily. the shooting is really great, there is a good consistency among the costumes, settings and other tools. the movie is really successful to create that times environment. Most importantly the package is not empty, it's full of very interesting characters, a very interesting detective story, very sharp criticism for today's world and lot's stuff about psychology and psychiatry; and also there are qualified stuff that makes you laugh sincerely. an unaware viewer about the subject learns really useful stuff about Freud, Jung and etc. Script of the movie is really successful, every minute you find something new to discover. Music is really fantastic. Actors are very successful while creating and playing the characters, it is real fun to watch them fly over the curtain. Through the whole movie you appreciate (or adore) the director (and also screenwriter), but the credits really prove that the director is a genius. The only problem maybe the some mimics and acts of the actors may look strange, but the reason is that Spanish (and also Italian) acting has some differences other than the acting that most viewers got used to. I hope you all watch and understand what i mean. You'll be grateful that such a movie exists after watching 'Inconscientes' (Unconscious). (By the way the love story in the movie is really in its dose and not that kind of cheap love story in 'Pearl Harbor', 'Titanic' or 'SW: Attack of the Clones'. I guarantee you'll be satisfied.) Have Fun!...

Joaquín Oristrell abandons his usual contemporary urban comedies to write and direct this delightful period comedy that takes place in Barcelona in the early 20th century. With the beginnings of psychoanalysis as a leit-motiv and background, brother and sister-in-law Salvador and Alma get involved in a charming quest for the truth.

Leonor Watling is simply outstanding as nine-months pregnant Alma, a neurotic yet lovable character that lets Watling show her great skill as a comedienne. In his first truly comedic role, Luis Tosar passes the test and confirms himself as one of our greatest actors. The couple show a great chemistry together, almost a rarity in most films today.

Joaquín Oristrell is to be praised for his directorial work, since he's been getting better with each film since his debut with the average "De qué se ríen las mujeres". With "Inconscientes" he has a achieved an entertaining, technically perfect and engaging film.

Overall rating: 8/10

Unconscious, which just had its international (outside of Spain) premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, is a very good comedy/mystery. The art direction is very convincing, the dialogue is charming and fast paced and the plot twists are satisfyingly unpredictable. The Spanish cinema is blessed with a broad selection of films that focus on early twentieth century Spain, and this is a welcome addition to that group. It also features a strong comedic performance from Leonor Watling (from Almodovar's Talk to Her) who richly deserves an increased amount of recognition on the international cinema scene. Luis Tosar also does a very fine job as Salvador, the somewhat hapless male lead.

An excellent screenplay by Joaquín Oristrell, Teresa Pelegri, and Dominic Harari; that combines comedy with Holmesian detective work, brilliant direction by Joaquín Oristrell that keeps the story moving along, and a great performance by Juanjo Puigcorbé as Alma's (Leonor Watling) father.

Watling (Chronicas, Talk to Her) was magnificent, and it is a shame her performance was in the same year as Aitana Sánchez-Gijón's in The Machinist, or it would have been more recognized.

This period piece was characterized by great costuming and an excellent score. Fine performances were also turned in by Luis Tosar (Mondays in the Sun, Miami Vice) as Alma's brother-in-law and partner in solving the mystery, and Mercedes Sampietro (Silencio Roto).

Hilarious throughout with some really great lines.