... which is exactly how you will feel as a viewer if you're brave enough to venture down this isolated path to find there's very little, in fact absolutely nothing worth exploring, that is if you do make it to the end.
Plot summary
O que Arde ("Lo que Arde" in Spanish, "What It Burns" in English) is a rural drama that follows Amador, a forty-something arsonist who is free from jail after to accomplish two-thirds of his imprisonment to burn an entire mount. Not having friends, money or other resources, Amador returns his natal home in an undetermined so-small mountain town located in the province of Lugo (Galicia; northwest to Spain),living with his aging mother Benedicta. Quiet, calm and man of few words, Amador bears silently the mock of the some neighbors whose don't forgot his misdemeanor by the fire he caused, while tries to redirect his life caring the livestock of the farm and interesting about Elena, town's veterinarian. At the same time, a worried Benedicta talks Inazio, who is restoring ancient ruined houses to turn them in rural resorts for tourists, looking for a job for Amador, in the hope that her beloved son can at least to have a normal life. But the peaceful life of the town dominated by the bad weather of rain and fog ends abruptly when a new fire lights in the mount close to it, threatening not only houses of the town, but neighbors.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB 755.89 MB
1280*682
Spanish 2.0
NR
Movie Reviews
Reviewed by
Isolation & Mental Anguish...
Reviewed by
An agreeable and interesting rural drama with splendid cinematography and nice acting
An attractive and sensitive story with two unexperienced but good protagonists and including gorgeous outdoors from Galicia . Rural tale set in wonderful landscapes , nicely starred by Amador Arias and Benedicta Sánchez , being compellingly directed by Oliver Laxe . Amador (Amador Arias) goes back home in an undetermined mountain located in the province of Lugo to join his beloved aging mummy (Benedicta Sánchez) after serving a sentence of various years for arson . He's paroled due to he previously fired an entire mount . He attempts to adapt to daily farm life and facing with the villagers' records of his past actions.
This is an enjoyable and intense rural drama that follows Amador , a forty-something arsonist crammed with social habits , family life and a particular relationship between two strange characters . Its style is pretty much rural and realistic as well in the atmosphere as in the fresh dialog . This film describes the rural life , including a character studio of local people and an enjoyable relationship between an outbeat son and his silent mother , along with other villagers . This provoking drama to be a deep reflection about the human being , pardon and redemption . Well played by newcomer Amador Arias as a strange man who not having friends, money or other resources, along the way he attempts to lead his life caring the livestock of the farm , while the elderly Benedicta Sánchez is terrific as his mother who's looking for a job for him , in the hope that her intimate son can at least to have an ordinary life.
Good production design and correctly reflecting the atmosphere by that time and excellent location . Splendid photography with juicy atmosphere by Mauro Herce , a great cameramen of the Spanish cinema . Being appropriately filmed on location , showing one colorful filming from Navia de Suarna, Lugo, Ourense, Ourense, Verín, Ourense, Galicia, Xinzo, Ourense, Galicia, northwest to Spain and Tapia de Casariego, Asturias. Likewise , evocative and spiritual musical score along with the classic song Suzanne Written and performed by Leonard Cohen Produced by John Simon . This motion picture ¨O que Arde¨or "Lo que Arde" in Spanish, or "What It Burns" was well directed by Oliver Laxe . He is a director and actor, known for Mimosas (2016),Lo que arde (2019) and Todos vosotros sois capitanes (2010). The picture won several awards and nominations , such as : Cannes Film Festival 2019 Winner Un Certain Regard Jury Prize : Oliver Laxe. Chicago International Film Festival 2019 Winner Best Sound Design , best sound mixer , sound editor : Silver Hugo, David Machado , Xavier Souto ; Nominee Gold Hugo Best Feature : Oliver Laxe. Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain 2020 Nominee CEC Award Best Cinematography : Mauro Herce , Best New Actress : Benedicta Sánchez , Best Original Screenplay : Santiago Fillol. Días de Cine Awards 2020 Nominee Best Spanish Film. Nominee Feroz Award Best Film: Drama : Miramemira ,Kowalski Films , Best Screenplay : Oliver Laxe , Santiago Fillol, Best Trailer and Best Poster . Gaudí Awards 2020 Winner Best Cinematography Mauro Herce , Best European Oliver , Santiago Fillol as writer . Goya Awards 2020 Winner Goya Best New Actress Benedicta Sánchez , Best Cinematography Mauro Herce , Nominee Goya Best Director Oliver Laxe . Hainan International Film Festival 2019 Winner Golden Coconut Special Jury Prize Oliver Laxe , Nominee Golden Coconut Best Feature Film , Mar del Plata Film Festival 2019 Winner Best FilmInternational Competition Oliver Laxe , Winner Best Screenplay Santiago Fillol ,among others .
Reviewed by
Slow burn with not much payoff
This was a dreary effort posturing itself as some sort of artistic work but in reality it has little substance and most people will just find it a bit boring.
Coupled with that, there is no resolving of the main characters guilt or not and leaves it up tot he viewer to work it out but in this case it just falls a bit flat.