Review of The Sea Inside (2004) by Sofia C — 04 Mar 2008

"There's only one thing worse than having your son die on you... him wanting to.".

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Well Amenabar has something special as a film director. He somehow elevates you to somewhere else and the smallest of moments become so much more.

The main reason this works so beautifully is Bardem. You are on his side almost immidiatly. This could be a very bleak tale, and I guess technically it is, but this character makes it a something else, something personal. Yes his family and friends have diffrent aspects of "what you'd expect" but in the centre is Bardem's lead performance and it's the one you connect to.

The interaction with his family, new found friends and the women in his life all so wonderfully explored. The discussions only the end of a life can conjour up and the range of emotions everyone goes through, all just so perfectly realised.

This is a movie with something to say, but it doesn't do it with a big issue, it does it with heart. It's one with real human emotion and it never wavers.

A stunning piece of work from a director who has something diffrent to offer.

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"When you can't escape, and you constantly rely on everyone else, you learn to cry by smiling, you know? ".