filmbore picks The Night Of The Sunflowers

The Night Of The Sunflowers

Director: Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo
Screenplay: Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo
Starring: Carmelo Gómez, Judith Diakhate, Vicente Romero, Celso Bugallo, Manuel Morón, Fernando Sánchez-Cabezudo
Year: 2006
Language: Spanish
UK rental release: May 2007

IMDb
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Well, patience clearly must be a virtue. Not only have you waited over a month to receive a new filmbore review (now re-branded as "filmbore picks") but you're blessed with my aspect on a truly excellent picture. As if I wouldn't pick a decent flick though! Anyway, just a brief note before I start, I want to thank you all for waiting and continuing to support filmbore. Let's get back to it!

So, my return back to critiquing unique films comes in the guise of a beautifully carved piece from Spain, which seems apt as the first ever review on this site was for the raucous prison drama from my Spanish neighbours, Cell 211, nearly two years ago (my reviews were more...compact back then. Click the link and see!). My pick this time around is for the moving mystery drama, The Night Of The Sunflowers...

We open on a sea of sunflowers at dusk. As the camera holds frame, we glimpse a man escaping to his car. Moments later, we pan down into the flowers...and we fade to black. The next day, the reports come out over the radio. A body has been found, raped and murdered, in a field in the Cerrado region; Elena Martos, 22 years old, was left hidden in the ocean of sunflowers.

On this same day, the salesman (Manuel Morón, Cell 211, El Bola), specialising in the vending of industrial vacuum cleaners, is driving through the sunny Spanish countryside, where he spots a young lady walking along the road. Stopping to ask directions, a truck suddenly pulls up in front of him, with the driver angrily calling the girl to get in his car, clearly after a lover's tiff. She gets in, eventually, if reluctantly.

He sees the same gentleman from the truck once more in a nearby taverna, who recommends a site where he should sell his cleaners. He's unsure of the stranger's intentions but decides to give it a view, only to find himself lost. Through his venture, he espies a young woman sketching against a hilly bank. As he watches her from afar, he's compelled to get closer, as a darkness begins to surface from within him. 

Geology expert Esteban (Carmelo Gómez, Tierra, Días Contados) has been called into the nearby village at the special request of a recent discovery. As soon as he arrives, he is introduced to the village mayor, and taken to meet the local townsfolk who are clearly excited.

Said discovery was thanks to the town's makeshift maintenance man, Beni (newcomer Fernando Sánchez-Cabezudo) who, while out on a hike to avoid much needed village repairs, fell across an opening in the rocks upon the hills. An opening to a cave! 

Esteban's girlfriend Gabi (Judith Diakhate, Scorpion In Love) arrives, to his surprise. With little time together, she wants to come along on his spelunking trip if only to spend some moments in his company. Yet, her presence on this visit will trigger a number of events that will bring them all to some difficult decisions. Choices that will embroil local young policeman Tomás (Vicente Romero, The Hours Of The Day, Winning Streak) into to a web of lies. 

But can he pull the wool over the eyes of his chief, Amadeo (Celso Bugallo, The Sea Inside, Mondays In The Sun). As pensive as he appears, his calm, wily demeanour begins to draw out the truth behind the sinister goings-on in his beloved local town.

Nominated for 3 Goya Awards, this standout drama from Canal+ España film was also delivered in conjunction with independent distributor and financier, Backup Films, who've been involved in such films as Le Passé and Amour.

It's a great combination, as the production on this picture feels organic and honest. What will strike you very early on is the approachability factor. With some clearly ominous plot threads underlying the story, it's a startling achievement how the overall feel of this picture is so welcoming. 

It is its generally serene persona that makes it incredibly accessible, partly assisted by its own visible splendour. The locations are just superb. From the quaint village, of which most of our characters reside or visit, to the gorgeous vistas of the local countryside, there's a ravishing blend of visuals for you to enjoy from the sites and surroundings alone.

It's filmed excellently too, with confident slow pans dressing the piece in multiple locations, which broadens the tale and paints a world in mere minutes. This piece seems to have a personality of its own, addressing you in its harmonious greeting and wrapping you up on cosy celluloid.

This is a clever ploy however, as it has plenty of surprises in store. At points, it flips its genteel gaze to launch into a realm of shock and fear. The violence is raw; real. It's brutal in its acts of onslaught and rape. It may offend the more sensitive of viewers, if only at a few brief moments.

The gravitas of these junctures would have no grounding though if it wasn't for the cast. Without employing some of Spain's more prominent acting force (don't let this put you off, as there is some incredible talent here, I can assure you) there are no preconceptions to any of the character's intentions or predilections. Performances are natural and exposed, perfectly portrayed to pave the way for the startling, more shocking moments. 

It's difficult for me to highlight any key actors here, as they all stand tall within this sprawling tale, yet it's hard not to adore Celso Bugallo's Amadeo. He's only truly exhibited in the last chapter of the film, yet is an intriguing detective. Through his twilight days in the law, he seems like he doesn't want to be there, yet his subtle charisma reveals a level of affection for his protege, Tomás, while glimmers of passion swell when this new mystery starts to develop.

At this point, you already know the plot. This is imperative for two reasons. Firstly, it allows director and writer, Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo, to play with the key theme of the picture: cause and effect. With your slowly granted awareness, you are treated to beautifully, if sometimes disturbingly realised events, and the effects such actions have. The trail of moments in the entire picture reveal so much, allowing you to reflect on points of your own life at times, where decisions and controlled outcomes may have determined where your existence has taken you. It's something many filmmakers play with, rarely to great effect.

And secondly, tying neatly into the first point, is the chapterising of the picture. In the final moments, all the pieces have been neatly laid out, but only after a heady journey through our character's experiences thanks to the smart editing at hand. It's segmented into six chapters, it presents number of scenarios, all interlinked, feeding off the aftermath of the previous night's horrific event in a field of sunflowers. This approach allows the many plot threads to hold their own space, while still leaving room to intertwine with beautiful effect.

The threading of each tale is beautifully executed, as you are gradually and gently greeted by the connections that each individual character has with each other; their relationships and events stunningly interwoven, catching you in its filmic web, ensnaring you in this graceful, moody mystery.

There are many multi-layered films such as this, like Gomorrah and Amores Perros to name a couple of great ones, and The Night Of The Sunflowers deserves to sit amongst them. It's probably a film you've seen perched amongst some greats in world cinema sections of DVD stores. You may have overlooked it, with it sitting next to more commonly known fare. Next time you visit your favourite film store, I dare you to hold thought on it for a moment, and ask yourself if you fancy something a little different, a little left field, maybe even a little dark.

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