Alicia

I'm sure Balaguero was trying to create a powerful allegory for God, motherhood and faith with his short film Alicia, but none of that is very important. What's important is, the impact 5 minutes of film can have on a person. The visuals are nothing short of spectacular (particularly the opening "hemorrhage", and "feeding" scene). I'm not sure how easy it will be to track down a copy of Alicia, but I recommend you try.

"Alicia" was Jaume Balagueró's first short film. He later went on to direct masterpieces like "Darkness" (with an all-star international cast, including Academy Award winner Anna Paquin) or "Los sin nombre" (which won 15 international awards and starred Emma Vilarasau). Some critics already compare him to Andrei Tarkovsky.

This film, shot in black and white, is pretty much all about atmosphere. It has all it needs to be scary; it's dark, moody, pensive, aggressive and beautiful in a very obscure kind of way. Unfortunately, "Alicia" lacks a real plot, or a message. The surreal images, beautifully filmed and edited, are intriguing and are unforgettable, but it requires a lot of energy and time to perceive a real plot behind them.

A fantastic movie, only nine minutes long, enjoyable for everyone with a sense for dark and scary movies.

This is purely personal, but I have a few wickets through which a film must pass for me to willingly splice it into my imagination. I'm only talking here about films that present themselves as art.

— It has to be competent, which for me can translate into the degree to which it exploits cinema

— It has to be readable in some way, even if only to indicate anarchy

— The "reading" has to be something that makes the experience worthwhile. It can be insightful, self-commenting, revelatory or clever. Even merely honest will do if avid and clean.

— The resulting fragment must fit one of the cosmologies I carry with me. Without that, no matter how charming the jewel, I cannot wear it. For example, if the tool is only useful for misogyny, it isn't wanted.

This little project has only the first two. "Begotten" at least has the first three.

Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.