Mar de luna

From the incestuous relationship between a knight (José Sancho) and his sister a son is born , whom the knight repudiates , taking him to live with some friars in a monastery. When the boy (Santiago Alonso) grows up, he runs away from the monastery to see the world and especially the sea. Along the way he meets a drifter peddler (Emma Penella) who teaches him how to get along in life and while falling in love for a young girl (Esperanza Campuzano) .

A medieval drama with adventure, romance , tragedy and customs of the Middle Ages . This includes a broad description of medieval life such as the power of religion, the subordinate relationship between feudal lords and their vassals and sufferings, hardships that the unfortunate people lived with the black plague, hunger and deep despair . Highlights of the the movie are the stunning main and support cast with veteran actors such as Emma Penella, José Sancho, Juan Luis Galiardo, Toni Cantó, Francisco Casares , Francisco Algora , José Lifante, Francis Lorenzo, Elisa Montés, Amparo Rivelles , some of them giving brief but compelling interpretations ; while the newcomers : Santiago Alonso, Esperanza Campuzano are really mediocre.

It contains an appropriate cinematography by expert cameraman Hans Burmann shot on location in Rebolledo de la Torre, Burgos, Castilla y León, Santuario de Montes Claros, 39417 Montes Claros, Cantabria, beaches of San Vicente de la Barquera , Cantabria and Revilla de Pomar, Palencia, Spain . And accompanying an evocative and imaginative musical score from composers Bernardo Fuster and Luis Mendo . The motion picture picture was professional but regularly directed by Manuel Matji with some flaws , gaps and failures . Matji has filmed with all of power and sinister medieval realism at its command . Manuel is a prolific writer and occassionally director, known for Réquiem por Granada , Río Negro , A solas contigo , La guerra de los locos (1987), El sueño del mono loco and Horas de luz (2004) . In his long career he has got several Awards and nominations , such as : Toulouse Cinespaña, Turia Awards , San Sebastián International Film , Goya Awards 2005 Nominee and Cinema Writers Circle Awards . Rating : 5.5 , average but passable and acceptable . Only for hardcore Spanish cinema enthusiasts.