Review of The Sea Inside (2004) by Iain S — 17 Feb 2009

A curiously unengaging Spanish film detailing the real life story of Ramon Sampedro who was paralysed from the neck down following a diving accident and who fought a long campaign with the authorities to end his own life.

Despite the obviously emotive subject matter and the resonance it must have had for the real people in Ramon's life, the film is inherently undramatic to the casual viewer. This is no reflection on the story, acting or production but simply reflects the difficulty of filming a dramatic story in which the central character is confined to a bed for the majority of the running time. That said, Javier Bardem is absolutely superb as Ramon and somehow manages to diminish his burly frame to completely inhabit his character. A well-acted, worthy film but one that I would ultimately have difficulty in recommending.