Nubes de verano (2004)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Felipe Vega

Writers:

Manuel Hidalgo (writer)
Felipe Vega (writer)

Release Date:

30 April 2004 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Roberto Enríquez	...	Daniel
Natalia Millán	...	Ana
David Selvas	...	Robert
Irene Montalà	...	Marta
Roger Casamajor	...	Tomás
Kevin Almodóvar	...	Manuel
Kai Puig	...	Carnicero
Xabier Ruano	...	Pescadero
Joan Raja	...	Mecanico
Ramon Godino	...	Amigo (as Ramón Godino)
Dolo Beltrán	...	Frutera
Michelle Jenner	...	Natalia

Also Known As:

Summer Clouds (Australia) (TV title)

Runtime:

100 min | 101 min | Argentina:101 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish | Catalan

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Spain:13 | Argentina:13

Summer clouds

Felipe Vega, the director of this film, loves to do the kind of movies favored by French directors: dialog is everything. It appears he was influenced by Eric Rohmer because this movie feels like a conversation piece, instead of a film.

The story is about a couple, Ana and Daniel, upwardly mobile people that always go to the same area in Spain's Catalonia region. The director uses Castilian and Catalan, which can be distracting for those trying to practice their school Spanish.

Robert, a local lothario, makes a bet with his cousin Beatriz that he will seduce Ana by the end of their stay, and Beatriz, who started the whole thing suggesting that she likes Daniel, Ana's husband, goes along with him because she fancies the man.

Whereas Beatriz thinks the whole thing a joke, for lecherous Robert, it is a challenge to prove his point. We watch him as he insinuates himself on the unsuspecting Ana. At first, she rejects him, then, she is curious about the whole thing, but the director leaves things for the viewer to decide what really happened between the two of them.

The final scene tells it all. Daniel goes to buy things for the trip home and Beatriz hands him a small package Robert has given her to give to Ana. He opens it and the secret is revealed, or is it? The director doesn't tell, so your conclusion will be probably different from mine.

The four actors in the film are good. David Selvas has been seen in other films. He plays the evil Robert with great panache. Natalia Millan is Ana. At first she is a woman who appears to be sure of herself, or of what she wants, but little by little she becomes something else. Roberto Enriquez is Daniel. Finally, Irene Montala plays Beatriz, the girl who quits the game when she realizes the harm she is causing to innocent people.

While the film is too chatty, it has good moments for all the principals. Felipe Vega directs with an eye for detail as he gives us his own take about what goes on during summer vacations. with people on vacation.