7/25/2013

"Same story. Different Aggressor"

Title: Even the rain 
Year: 2010 
Genre: Drama, Historical 
Director: Icíar Bollaín 
Writer: Paul Laverty 
Runtime: 103min 
Cast: Luis Tosar, Gael García Bernal, Juan Carlos Aduviri, Karra Elejalde, Raúl Arévalo, Carlos Santos, Cassandra Ciangherotti, Milena Soliz, Daniel Currás, Vicente Romero 
Produc.: AXN, Alebrije Cine y Video, Canal+ España, Canal+, Consellería de Cultura e Turismo, Eurimages, Haut et Court, Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO), Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA), Londra Films P&D, Mandarin Films, Morena Films, Natixis Coficiné, También la lluvia, Televisión Española (TVE), Vaca Films 
Budget: €5 million aprox. 

In Even the rain, Costa (Luis Tosar) and Sebastián (Gael García Bernal) are a producer and a director, who take the shooting of a historical film to the chaotic city of Cochabamba. 
Costa and Sebastian, just about to begin a casting process, find that the attendance has been excessive. Costa then suggests to the director to do a preselection right there, and those who are not selected will be sent back to their homes. Sebastián goes, in this way, discarding candidates, until he meets Daniel (Juan Carlos Aduviri), an individual who claims his right and of all those present, to be seen, as is set in the call sheet. Sebastián, in spite of what the producer thinks, decides to follow the original plan. 
Already in the next scene, producer and director see Daniel´s tape, this small but explosive subject that appeals to Sebastián, though not, to Costa, who foresees problems. Costa, however, fails to dissuade Sebastián of not choosing him as Hatuey, the taíno chief. 
The film, from here, handles an interesting parallel between the aboriginal situation, during the conquest, and the one of the current inhabitants of Cochabamba. In the late fifteenth century the inhabitants of the new continent had been violated for their gold, and today (2000) the same is happening in this town, though on a smaller scale, with the "Water War". The circumstances have now replaced the colonists with a foreign multinational, besides this not being for gold, but because of the privatization of something more important. This parallelism then comprehends the similarity between scenarios, where a race is always attacked, only changing the disputed resource. 
Columbus, at the time, had disembarked to do as he pleased, with no respect for the colonized, and now here, something similar is happening. Costa himself, in a careless and underestimating Daniel, tells in English to an investor, of the misery they are paid, as if highlighting of these people, their ignorance. Costa does not know that Daniel, who is fairly close, understands the language, although, all the same, there will be just an occasion for apologizing. 
In terms of social complaints, no one is left aside. Here there does not exist to treat certain aspects and let others out. Taking a visit from the heads of the crew, to the Bolivian president, we hear one of the best discussions of the movie. What, with this exchange, more than to make it evident, is emphasized to us, is that, even though these filmmakers want to believe that there is nothing wrong with their work, making art and telling their story, they are actually no angels neither. Costa, speaking scenes before with the investor, is a perfect reference. That would be like pointing out that there, they can take advantage of these people without too many complications. Luckily, still hearing his words, we will then see his most sincere and kind side, helping Daniel's daughter in a touching and dramatic ending. 
Something completely different is what happens with their host. This corrupt and racist politician does not plan to give in to the protesters, according to him, unable to reason, among other things, because of them being illiterate, as if that were of any excuse. 
But beyond complaints, this is a movie from the "film within a film" type. A movie that shows us how it is a movie, exactly created. Where the actor has to rehearse his lines and where the time and the shooting schedule are as valuable as the gold for the Spanish, or like the water for the Bolivians. Or where the lack of communication may result in upset actresses, as happens here, and therefore, in unfinished scenes. 
For all this, Even the rain should interest filmmakers and those preparing to become ones, for how it covers the behind the scenes, and where nothing is ever a piece of cake. 
Furthermore, I think it is a good choice for getting to know another chapter of history, if one is interested in the events of the conquest. 

My rating: 7/10


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