Te doy mis ojos (2003)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Icíar Bollaín

Writers:

Icíar Bollaín (writer)
Alicia Luna (co-writer)

Release Date:

10 October 2003 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Donde dice hogar se lee infierno. Donde dice amor hay dolor. (Where it reads 'home' read 'hell'. Where it reads 'love' there is pain)

Plot:

One winter night, Pilar runs away from home. With her, she takes only a few belongings and her son, Juan. Antonio soon sets out to look for her. He says Pilar is his sunshine, and what's more, "She gave him her eyes"... |

Plot Keywords:

Toledo Spain | Female Full Frontal Nudity | Male Full Frontal Nudity | Wife Beater | Domestic Violence

Awards:

39 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Laia Marull	...	Pilar
Luis Tosar	...	Antonio
Candela Peña	...	Ana
Rosa Maria Sardà	...	Aurora
Kiti Manver	...	Rosa
Sergi Calleja	...	Therapist
Elisabet Gelabert	...	Lola
Nicolás Fernández Luna	...	Juan
David Mooney	...	John
Chus Gutiérrez	...	Raquel
Elena Irureta	...	Carmen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roberto Álamo
Javier Batanero
Ricardo Birnbaum	...	Antonio
Francesc Garrido
Aitor Merino
Leire Ucha

Also Known As:

Take My Eyes (International: English title)

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:12 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Cementerio de la Almudena, Madrid, Spain

Company:

Alta Producción

Soundtrack:

Farewell To Gibraltar

Inishgtful look on spousal abuse

I've already seen this film twice and the subsequent viewing has not diminished much director Iciar Bollain's powerful treatment of domestic violence. In fact, I was actually reluctant to see it again because its potent portrayal of spousal abuse was too disturbing.

There are two things notable about this film that make it stand out from other films on the same subject. One is that it features almost no violence. In fact, there is only one full-blown case of abuse portrayed, and it is less about physical abuse than it is humiliation and emotional abuse.

Another is the nuanced portrayal of the abusive husband. For this, credit must go to actor Luis Tosar, who portrays Antonio. Although the film does its best to give a more balanced portrayal by showing that Antonio does go to therapy and makes some attempt to change his ways, it is Tosar's performance that brings out his human side.

It would have been easy for Tosar to have demonized Antonio, particularly since the actor already a scary appearance, what with his bushy eyebrows and deep-set eyes. But Tosar chooses to take the high road in his performance, focusing on Antonio's deep-seated insecurity and inferiority complex, which are the roots of his violence towards his wife.

His most notable scene is the last one in the film when his wife finally leaves him. As she and her friends go around the apartment packing up her things, the expression on his face is not one of anger but of incomprehension.

But equal credit should be given to Laia Marull, who portrays the wife, Pilar. Because of her performance, the filmmakers literally do not have to show much violence. The literally palpable fear she shows when Antonio is about to go into once of his rages makes that unnecessary.

The film also shows the sexual bond between Pilar and Antonio in order to explain why she continues to return to him despite his abusive behavior, through a frank sex scene that would be possible only in Europe, since American movie makers seem averse to that kind of frankness.

Te doy mis ojos is difficult to watch at times, because of the intensity of its emotional violence. But it is ultimately rewarding for the insights it gives on spousal abuse and the relationship between abusive husband and abused wife.