re:mote voices

Title: Take My Eyes
Cast: Laia Marull, Luis Tosar, Candela Pena, Rosa Maria Sarda, Kiti Manver
Director: Iciar Bollain

Take My Eyes is an acclaimed Spanish drama, which won a number of awards in Spain. The film revolves around domestic abuse – opening with the hasty departure of the wife and her son. Moving in with her sister, there is an attempt to persuade her to divorce her husband. She is hesitant, although she does make some attempt to establish her life/identity by taking a job. The husband however wants her back, and even acknowledges that there was a problem and is now seeking help. The film follows the relationship and the question of whether their marriage can really be saved.

One of the big things with Take My Eyes is the way it follows both halves of the couple. We see the wife as she retreats from his intensity, his swearing, and the fear of violence. This is then flipped to some degree as we are given to understand his emotions – jealousy and fear. She starts to open up, the job in a museum expresses her potential. While the group meetings show there is some hope for him – as the other group members certainly come across as much worse.

Take My Eyes is clearly working in heavy territory, and events in it escalate to the point where there is one particular scene that could be described as distressing. However I found it a little detached, one comparison that had been made was to Lilya 4-Ever, and it certainly doesn’t have that level of intensity or emotional involvement. Even sticking with Spanish cinema Take My Eyes isn’t as involving as various pieces by either Medem or Almodovar. However it is a decent enough film, and the insight into the male half of the equation and the emotional levels he experiences is particularly worth seeing.