This was supposed to be a "thriller", so at least, anyone would expect a minimum atmosphere, a crime, a (or a couple of) suspect, Well... don't expect, if you're going to watch "El alquimista impaciente", you will have to get your expectations lower, much lower...
The story plot has a good beginning: Two cops have to investigate a strange crime in a small town. A man was found dead, in dark circumstances. He's married, 2 kids, no problems, no enemies. no apparent mobile. Two "federal" agents -from the Spanish "Guardia Civil"-are in charge of the investigation.
Ok, first 25 minutes are fine, let's say. But then, everything in the story becomes twisted and disjointed ... No matter how much attention you would pay on clues, characters' statements or how imaginative you would be. You wouldn't ever guess why this crime was committed, or why in such a way, or why did characters appear, or when movie's title does comes from, or why did you get 'til the end of the movie. Worst for me, is that I not only couldn't guess that all, I couldn't ever understand it!
This is a slow-paced, totally unclear "policial" film. I was disappointed such an actor like Miguel Angel Sola (one of my favorites) was completely wasted on a "two-or-three-spoken-lines" character. Cast makes its best, but the story is badly narrated. I love crime stories, and like Spanish cinema industry, but "El alquimista impaciente" is not definitely a good movie. You better save your time and money. Any classical King's Arthur film makes of Merlin a much intriguing and thrilling alchemist.
