Hierro (2009)

Director:

Gabe Ibáñez

Writers:

Javier Gullón (story)
Javier Gullón (written by)

Release Date:

25 December 2009 (Finland)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

After believing she spotted her son in a traveling caravan, a distraught mother returns to the island of El Hierro, where son disappeared three years previously. |

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Elena Anaya	...	María
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hugo Arbues	...	Mateo
Jon Ariño	...	Forense
Miriam Correa	...	Julia
Tomás del Estal
Andrés Herrera	...	Antonio
Javier Mejía	...	Matias
Kaiet Rodriguez	...	Diego
Raquel Salvador	...	Elena
Bea Segura	...	Laura
Mar Sodupe	...	Tania

Runtime:

France:91 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Filming Locations:

El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain

Company:

Madrugada Films

A visually marvellous but not completely successful psychological mystery

I knew virtually nothing about this other than that it was Spanish and it was a fairly decent time, though imperfect. It concerns a mother who loses her young son on a ferry heading on holiday. The police discover what seems to be the boys body but the lady is adamant that it is not him. The police were convinced though, so she has to stay on the island until a judge can arrive to oversee a DNA test. While on the island visions, dreams and paranoia taunt her as she sets out to find her son. The film has a slow pace and a not terribly surprising plot but maintains interest pretty effectively. There are creepy and unfriendly locals, Lynchian touches and a few suspenseful moments, but the real stars are the locations and direction. The film is beautifully shot by cinematographer Alejandro Martinez, a bleak beauty pervades the entire movie and is supported in compelling fashion by the oodles of intriguing imagery, with a lot of focus on water and animal life. Director Gabe Ibanez started out in animation and did a couple of title sequences for Day of The Beast and a few other films and this background shows as the film is laden with visual interest, it really is a treat for the eyes. However, great as it is to look at, the film is decidedly slow of pace and the creepier elements are not always especially well handled, which compounded with the lack of much in the way of surprise leads to a slightly draggy feel. Also the imagery probably needs a crash course in Jungian symbolism to be fully appreciated. Still, Elena Anaya is pretty fine as the lead and the film is certainly kinda poignant, will probably hit harder with anyone that has kids. So, decent stuff but it doesn't completely come off, could definitely have been tighter and the various elements linked together with more skill. It has a lot of stuff that works and it has rewatch value, but art-house lovers will likely have the best time with it.