Casa de Lava

Pedro Costa is the master of minimalism and for those who enjoy that form of filmmaking this will be a feast for the senses. He has made multiple wonderful films that fit the genre so I can not say this is his best but it is better than most films I have seen and I have seen a lot.

It is a beautiful film about a nurse and a volcano. Doesn't that description alone make you want to watch it? It sounds so simple and it is. And simple equals brilliance in the hands of the expert filmmaker Pedro Costa.

Be forewarned however that if you were not intrigued by the description about the nurse and the volcano then this may not be the film for you. Costa has a certain style that only some enjoy. But if you are one of the lucky few you will surely love this film.

There are many wonderful shots and the editing is brilliant. So often the camera does not cut away when in the hands of another filmmaker it would. Costa's distinct visual style astounds the senses. The cinematography alone is breathtaking let alone the beautiful story that will leave you misty eyed.

It is considered to be a remake of the 1943 film 'I Walked with the Zombie' although that one is considered to be a horror film and this effort is far superior. It is a drama and it is an improvement upon the earlier film. This is my favorite European film of the nineties.