Au lit

Do you remember "Before Sunrise", with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphy?

If you do, the general premise of this movie goes more or less like this: It's "Before Sunrise", but instead of Vienna you get a motel room, and lots of steamy sex.

It's quite simple, really. Daniela (Lewin) and Bruno (Valenzuela) meet at a party, and end up in a motel. And they have sex.

While I certainly can't complain about the sex scenes, the interesting part of the movie is what happens after (Or, uh, in between) them.

From being two total strangers having sex at first (They can't even remember each other's names!), they end up revealing themselves, their lives, their fears, and all that jazz.

The talk starts sloppily at first, but soon they get all the big topics covered. Past relationships, religion, fate, sex, 80's cartoons, death, etc.

It's somewhat tender and ironic, too, when you notice that, in the end, they're trying to seduce each other in a very childish and innocent way when they have already spent three condoms and about half an hour doin' it.

The dialog flows really good and it's very well paced. The acting is superb. Valenzuela is known around these lands for being somewhat of a expression-less actor, but he achieves a good performance.

Blanca Lewin is, however, the one that steals the film, in my opinion. I've always been her fan, so perhaps I'm a bit biased when saying this, but you're completely captivated by her character. As Daniela starts revealing herself, all the way to the (shocking!) revelation in the end, (Well, not that shocking, really) you just can't turn your head away from her.

So, really good writing, high doses of eroticism, acting that's not only above-par but a hole-in-one (or whatever better than that, I'm not much of a golf person), good directing and Blanca Lewin. What else can you ask for in a movie? Okay, maybe explosions and ninjas, and this film doesn't have those two, but it's pretty much covered in all of the remaining categories.

It gets a 9 because the ending comes out as a little bit too abrupt, in my opinion. But then again, 90 minutes seems to be just the right time.

meeting of two strangers at a party. a hotel room. sex. talks. jokes. confessions. games. real life fragments. memories. the past. sex. fear. stories. and the end. "En la cama". one of many films about nothing. at the first sigh. but interesting for the realistic manner to use the viewer. because it is an ordinary events who not have real surprises. it is not a film about sex. but about the discover of the other. it has the right dose of blank atmosphere for be very close by a documentary. but each of the fake errors are pieces of a simple story who becomes a trip. because it not gives answers. because the questions are not only parts of a game between Daniela and Bruno. because it has few cute scenes who are good arguments for define it as romantic. so, a simply story. a night. and a hotel room. and, sure, a bed. the rest remains at the disposition of public.

First I would like to say I really enjoyed this movie. I don't mean to diminish it, but it was very obvious to me how it was strongly based on Richard Linklater's movies: Before Sunrise, Before Sunset (and Tape, because the whole movie takes place in one room).

There is a scene that is a clone of the famous Before Sunrise scene where the protagonists hear the song "Come Here", by Kath Bloom, and exchange furtive looks towards one another. In "En la Cama" they hear a song an exchange looks in the exact same way. Unfortunately, I think this scene is very pale (the acting and the setting) if compared to the Before Sunrise one, and is a bit out of the context of the movie (it definitely doesn't make sense in a motel bed right after the two made passionate wild sex). I prefer to think it was made as a tribute to Before Sunrise, rather than a shallow copy, a way for the director to say "This is really inspired by Before Sunrise, I love it too!". I strongly believe the director watched those movies and asked himself, "what if I did this with the protagonists in a motel bed, during a one night stand?".

But it doesn't mean this movie has nothing to add. It feels like an antithesis of Before Sunrise/Sunset, and shows the concept of the movie (= deep communication) applies in other contexts as well. It is also shows a great irony in today's society, where people will go to bed without knowing each other (and this probably happened even before one night stands even existed...). Sex is trivial, while reaching each other's inner thoughts, feelings and truths is the unexpected, obtrusive and life altering act.

The acting is very good and realistic. The dialogs are great and keep you enticed to the movie. The plot is good and has a lot of depth, but I think it has some minor flaws (no big deal, though). The sex scenes are very artistic, but I wouldn't take my kids to watch it.

If you like Before Sunrise/Sunset, you will enjoy this movie a lot (but don't worry, it won't replace them in your shelf). If you liked this movie dialogs or any part of it (besides the sex scenes), you should watch Before Sunrise as soon as possible.

I may have seen only one other film from Chile, and was pleasantly surprised by the interesting concept and fair execution of this one by director Matías Bize. Two strangers at the end of their 20s meet for a one night encounter of casual sex in a motel. They may have done it many times in the past, but this night will prove to be different. The film starts with the two having sex, this is where many other stories in movies end, but here this is just the pretext for a dialog and a possible relationship. A relationship that will probably not last beyond the night, but its temporary nature gives it the occasion of intensity and sincerity. These do not come instantly however, it takes several rounds of dialog (and more sex) to start peeling off the layers of convention and get to the intimate truth, insecurity, intimacy of each one of the two characters. Sex is only the external layer of a relationship, and the most superficial of all, it hides rather than it represents what the man and the woman in the couple really are, and it takes special circumstances and dialog for the truth to pop out - this is the essence of the story that is being told.

Such a movie cannot keep the interest of the viewers even for its about only 80 minutes without good acting, and we get indeed here two excellent actors that pass well the screen and the challenge of explaining their characters beyond the physical appearances, which as with the story is the principal acting problem they face. Playing almost at nude in the perimeter of one motel room and yet building complex and human characters is not an easy task for an actor. Both are more than OK, Bianca Lewis is even close to bright. Director Matias Bize succeeded to make an interesting and different film, I wonder if he will be able to avoid closing himself in the formula or format of experimental films and rather continue to follow the emotional dimension he brought to screen in 'En la cama'.

Alright, about my rating first: I realize that this movie is not 10/10 quality, for it is a good one, but we have all seen better. However, in it's own category, it shows some qualities, that are rarely seen at cinema.

Namely: Well done sex scenes.

People, seriously, why is it so hard to make them? In most movies you see, they're either toned down and flat, or over the top and out of place. This one's on the other way taking it to the extreme. The whole film is about two young people on a one night stand in a motel room. There are no other actors, and no other set. Just these two, who came to have sex. And to have it as many times as possible. The night is long, and they already paid for the room, so it's perfectly understandable.

The story is about the two getting closer and closer, until their relationship turns from 'total strangers' to 'uncomfortably close, for a one night affair'. And that's another interesting thing about this one. I bet everyone of you has memories of sitting through a movie with a larger audience, coming across an unexpected, kinkier scene, which makes all of you feel embarrassed. Well, this movie doesn't screw around, that's for sure, and maybe because you know what to expect, and because of this film is well written and executed, you'll never once feel that cringe. As a matter of fact, the dialog parts may be much more tense, and uncomfortable. Why? Because a one night affair is not about talking. One might bump into things he or she doesn't want to get involved, or let the other get involved in.

Let's get back to the sex. I really didn't count it, but they're having sex about five times throughout the movie! It's quite a big number for a 85 minutes movie, which tries to tell story actually. But all of them work just fine. It's due to the cast of course, both the actors come off as really likable, good looking, young and fresh, and a strange kind of chemistry is present. As they getting to know each other, slowly, their relationship changes. And here comes another reason why these scenes work so well: good timing and direction. See, it's not just a movie, where these two screw five times and then they talk. The sex scenes are fully integrated into the plot, the have reason to be where they are, and they're executed and played out in a manner that reflects to the actual mood, events and dialog. It means we get about five completely different sex scenes in one movie, on about every significant point of the plot, where they are more than needed.

Deepest regards to the director, for this is truly an accomplishment, not too many could've pulled off.