Review of Little Ashes (2008) by Kate J — 15 Feb 2011

This film's low budget really, really shows (the one bit of SFX make-up is very poorly done, scenes shot against backdrops are frankly embarrassing, and there are a few spots utilising archive footage that are cringe-worthy) and it has a very slow beginning, but once it reaches the turn in the story it becomes absorbing. It's still a little messy, but I cared very much for the characters and felt they were reasonably recognisable as the historical figures they're meant to be. Sure, a romance was built and emphasised over their political and cultural significance, but it was always clear this was going to be that kind of film.

The performances were frankly courageous and I think they deserve far, far more praise than they have received. Ultimately, Lorca is strong and sympathetic, Dali is absurd and darkly fascinating; there's something very deep between them and in those characters and their relationship the film succeeds marvellously.

The one thing that bugs me most (after Lorca's dreamed images of Dali in Paris, which I actually could not watch because it was too embarrassing), is the English-with-hilarious-accents approach to the Spanish setting. Salvador Dali apparently did have a bizarre and ever-changing accent, so I suppose I'll let that slide (it should have been mentioned in-story, however, and it wasn't), but the rest of the English actors playing Spanish characters shouldn't have bothered. Even Lorca, whose actor is really Spanish, sounds ridiculous. Pick one language and stick to it.