Oculto (2005)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Antonio Hernández

Writers:

Enrique Brasó (writer)
Antonio Hernández (writer)

Release Date:

4 November 2005 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama

Cast

Laia Marull	...	Beatriz
Leonardo Sbaraglia	...	Alex
Angie Cepeda	...	Natalia
Gerardo Malla	...	Prof. Wissman
Joaquín Climent	...	Roberto
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Adele
Emma Cohen	...	Leonor
William Miller	...	Javier
Marta Aledo	...	Inés
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marta Belenguer
Antonio José Cuenca	...	Figurante de calle
Israel Elejalde	...	Tatuador
Xavier Murua
Juan Pérez	...	Figurante de calle
Gary Piquer
Jennifer Rope
Sergio Sánchez	...	Chico Rubio
Antonio de la Vega	...	Ejecutivo
Penélope Velasco	...	Adriana

Also Known As:

The Hidden (International: English title)

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

Italy | UK | Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA

Company:

Future Films

Excellent, modern and creative Spanish cinema with Latin American stars

Dismiss any low ratings given to this film. They must either come from people with a poor understanding of Spanish having a hard time with the subtitles, or from those that consider that good cinema that comes from Spain must be directed by Almodovar or about the miseries of Civil War, or about missing people under military governments, poverty, violence or any other kind of pretty dark stuff if it comes from Latin America.

This is a modern thriller, with suspense, drama, smart story, sharp script, excellent and unconventional camera management, steaming sensuality, and charismatic performances by top Latin American stars Leonardo Sbaraglia and Angie Cepeda.

The gorgeous Natalia (Cepeda) is obsessed with some repetitive dreams she catalogs as premonitions. She catches the interest of Alex (Sbaraglia) as it will happen with any healthy male exposed to this goddess. But she also catches the attention of the plain and shy Beatriz (Laia Marull) who will become the less fortunate character in the love triangle that she completes with her pretensions for Alex, but also the puppet-master in her Machiavellian manipulation of reality to drive Natalia deeply down in her oniric paranoia. Even the skeptic and pragmatic Alex will be dragged in the web of confusion that Beatriz coldly weaves.

I have to concede that the movie begins too sketchy: a lecture about dreams, a long and stiff post-lecture question in which Natalia relates rather plainly her issue some dreams turn premonitions, and Argentinian Sbaraglia faking a Spanish accent. Obviouslly the director was forced to give away too much information right away to allow him to develop all the good stuff that follows. So don't eject the disk too soon, give yourself the chance to enjoy what comes after those few initial minutes. Right after Natalia's boring monologue ends you will be trapped by this film and immediately forget Sbaraglia's faked accent or Cepeda's lame introduction to the story. Sbaraglia will perform smoothly delivering a correct performance as usual, but Cepeda will steal again the screen portraying this irresistible, gorgeous, capricious, fun and outrageous female used to get whatever she wants (I wonder how much of these matches Cepeda herself) but with that fatal (lethal?) obsession. Let me say Cepeda herself is taken from a dream, a contemporary Latin American Briggite Bardot, reassuring she is one of the hottest women alive. And before you complain about my obvious preference for the Colombian as an actress and more, let me round up stating that Spanish Marull delivers a correct performance too.

For those of you guys looking for some skin exposure you won't be disappointed, but be warned Cepeda's nudity may be dangerous for you heart (heart?). You will have something from Marull too. And you gals will have your dose of Sbaraglia too. But let me assure this is just a collateral bonus without which the movie won't lose a ounce of its interest. And let me underscore that none of comments about Angie Cepeda is based on her nude scenes. She is the kind of woman that naturally exudes sensuality even under a dirty overall and two thick coats, in the middle of a tough flu, makeup-free and a week with no shower.