Afternoons of Solitude

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Tom F Jan 17 An exciting look into the life of a baby-faced matador. The vivid cinematography is a reminder that bullfighting is just ritualized animal cruelty. See more Dick P. @Goughster Jan 13 It was difficult to watch, but having never attended a bullfight, I fell like I really learned a lot. I thought the subject matter did a good job of providing a different (and unique) perspective especially in comparison to Hemingway’s romanticism of the same subject. See more juan daniel p Oct 23 “ Tardes de solead: Un gesto, un ruedo, un silencio sin credo” Ganadora de la Concha de Oro en el Festival de San Sebastián 2024, esta película documental escrita y dirigida por Albert Serra nos adentra con hipnosis y sobriedad en el mundo del torero peruano Andrés Roca Rey. El film observa con paciencia y detenimiento su profesión, su ritua , sus gestos mínimos, su silencio y su exposición constante al riesgo, todo bajo una mirada contemplativa que evita tanto la glorificación como el juicio. El título me parece muy acertado, porque no solo refleja el enfrentamiento simbólico entre hombre y bestia, sino que sugiere también una lectura más amplia sobre la vulnerabilidad, la tradición y la muerte. Serra no cae en la idealización absoluta del torero: también da espacio al toro, lo observa con respeto, lo convierte en un personaje más, que como siempre está destinado a perecer. Eso es algo que muchas películas taurinas olvidan o eluden: aquí el animal no es solo un obstáculo o un símbolo, sino una criatura real, presente, que respira, siente y sufre. Y ese equilibrio es lo más valioso del documental: no es ni pro-taurino ni antitaurino. Habita un espacio neutro, contemplativo, donde el espectador puede mirar con admiración al torero y al mismo tiempo preguntarse por la naturaleza de esta “fiesta”. La puesta en escena es hermosa cada plano están bien pensado que te hipnotiza , con una narración casi silenciosa, envuelta por un diseño sonoro absorbente que nos mete en la plaza, en la habitación cuando se viste de luces, en las conversaciones previas a la arena y después. La primera mitad me pareció impactante, cargada de fuerza visual y emocional. La segunda mitad, en cambio, se vuelve algo repetitiva. Con unos 15 minutos menos habría sido más accesible para el público general. Aun así, se trata de un documental valioso, provocador y bello en su ambigüedad. En resumen, Albert Serra entrega un documental hipnótico y respetuoso, que retrata al torero Roca Rey sin mitificarlo y da voz, también, al toro. El film observa sin juzgar, con una puesta en escena austera, íntima y sonora. Aunque su segunda mitad cae en la repetición, su mirada neutra y contemplativa lo convierte en una obra provocadora e inusual. See more Phil D Sep 14 Most boring movie I have ever watched. He just kills bulls for 2 hours straight followed by his colleagues praising him in the car and two scenes of him getting dressed. That's it. No introspection on his motivations whatsoever. I like when movies leave some things unspoken, but this movie doesn't say anything at all. If you watch the trailer you have already seen the entire movie See more Scott L Jul 21 Very boring. It did not make me want to learn anything about this sport nor did it tell me anything about it. They could’ve just replayed the first 20 minutes of the movie 5 times and I would’ve been as clued up about the movie as when I left the cinema. By the end of the last killing of the Bull, I wish the dagger went in to my head and not the bull. See more Robin C Mar 26 “Afternoons of Solitude” Filmmaker Albert Serra makes his first foray into the documentary feature world and follows, over the course of days, superstar Spanish bullfighter Andres Roca Rey as he plies his deadly skills of grace in “Afternoons of Solitude.” I have never watched or cared to watch a Spanish bullfight. Something about torturing, stabbing with spears and darts and killing a poor dumb bull goes against every humane sensibility I have. But, that does not mean I cannot appreciate Albert Serra’s up close look at the art and spectacle of bullfighting. During the course of “Afternoons of Solitude,” we learn that there are six separate processes involved in the ultimate demise of the toro. It starts with the matador, here Andres, performing fancy capework to get the bull in motion. Then, the picadors, astride heavily padded and blindfolded horses, stab the bull repeatedly with spears to cause bleeding. More flashy capework and, then, the banderillas (short spears) are thrust into the wounds. Finally, the dangerous passes with the muleta and, finally the coup de mort by sword. All this for the entertainment of the masses, With all that described and said, Albert Serra creates a beautiful, horrific, gut-wrenching look into a barbaric sport that is akin and the reversal of the gladiator versus lion contests of ancient Rome. This time, the human is in control and the poor, dumb beast is destined to dies a gruesome and horrific death. This is truly an enigmatic documentary. On one hand, it is about unbridled cruelty to the bull. Sure, the matador risks life and limb in the close quarters with an angry and tormented 1200 pound animal with pointy horns. But, that danger is tempered by those assisting the bullfighter, in this case Andre, as they distract the bull when danger does arise. The odds are, of course, with the matador, Serra does not go with convention as he depicts the spectators sport without actually showing the spectators. His cameras are up close and personal with Andre and his victims – there are 14 corridas (fights) during the course of the film. His performance is a combination of theater and fearless daring as he taunts the bull, performs for the crowd, turning his back on an angry, badly bleeding animal to prove his courage, And it takes courage to do what he does, but what it does is plain animal cruelty. Thus the enigma of beauty and grace versus violence and death is a tough one for me. As a guy who loves movies of all shapes and sizes, I can recognize a master at work. The subject may not be for all viewers, but the structure of the film, the dedication of the toreador and his entourage, the beauty of the suit of lights (it does look like lights sparkling when in the bright sunshine) and Serra’s camera team make this both a fascinating and hard to watch documentary, It is, still, a masterpiece in filmmaking and, like it or not, I respect the auteur and his work. A See more Read all reviews

Afternoons of Solitude

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