La playa de los galgos (2002)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Mario Camus

Writer:

Mario Camus (writer)

Release Date:

5 April 2002 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Martin has been trying to find his disappeared brother Pablo. Pablo has been out of touch for years...

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Terrorism | Basque

Cast

Carmelo Gómez	...	Martín
Claudia Gerini	...	Berta
Miguel Ángel Solá	...	Dubbini
Ingrid Rubio	...	Oria
Gustavo Salmerón	...	Pablo
Montserrat Salvador	...	Madre de Martín
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carlos Castañon	...	Mr. Freeman
Hans Jorgen Christensen	...	Hombre Granade
José Correa	...	Veterinario
Juan Del Santo	...	Marido Berta
Marina Durante	...	Compañera Cácel
Helene Egelund	...	Enfermera
Marie-Anne Favreau	...	Ana 2
Vicente Granados	...	Camarero Hotel
Carmen Mellin	...	Mujer Dubbini
Mario Puertas	...	Gorritt
Carlota Sánchez	...	Ana 1

Also Known As:

The Beach of the Greyhounds (International: English title)

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Spain:13

Filming Locations:

Castro Urdiales, Santander, Cantabria, Spain

Company:

MediaTrade

Hard work maintaining concentration - or interest

Mario Camus, one of the best known Spanish cinematographers, has over the years, especially in the last twenty-five years, been able to offer the spectator some truly wonderful works. 'Los Santos Inocentes' (1984) (qv) remains to this day as one of the two or three greatest masterpieces ever made for the screen in this country, inspired by Miguel Delibe's novel of the same name. For television Camus has given us 'Fortunata y Jacinta' (1980) (mini), one of the greatest TV series ever made (and I do not add 'in this country'). Ten years later he directed 'La Forja de un Rebelde' (1990) (mini), based on Arturo Barea's novel, also a truly remarkable series. 'Beltenebros' is of course also among his best films. Worthy of mention is Camus' version of Lorca's stage-play 'La Casa de Bernarda Alba' (1987). 'El Color de las Nubes' (1997) is also worth mentioning.

Such that one begins to expect much from this Spanish director. However, with 'La Playa de los Galgos' one feels that the film does not reach expectations; the story itself and Camus' inimicable style just did not come off as a satisfying fusion, but more as an irritating confusion. I largely suspect that too much was made of technique, rather than telling the story per se. One bravely fights off sleepiness so as to reach the end credits, but by then one has decided that the film is somewhat a let-down, following on as it does from the above-mentioned great cinematographic works. As in 'El Color de las Nubes', Peracaula's photography is very good.

Carmelo Gómez heads a cast which carry out their roles pretty well, though I could not help feeling I might have replaced the Italian actress Claudia Gerini (who had to be dubbed into Spanish, anyway!).

Disappointing, and unnecessarily long. Barely above 6 out of 10