The Stone Raft (2002)

An inexplicable crack in the Pyrenees Mountains provokes excitement and scientific curiosity. As the geological fracture deepens and widens, the European community begins to disassociate ... See full summary »

Director:

George Sluizer

Writers:

Yvette Biro, José Saramago (novel)

Stars:

Federico Luppi, Icíar Bollaín, Gabino Diego

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Federico Luppi	...	Pedro
Icíar Bollaín	...	Maria (as Iciar Bollain)
Gabino Diego	...	Jose
Ana Padrão	...	Joana (as Ana Padrao)
Diogo Infante	...	Joaquim
Antonia San Juan	...	Ministra Enriquez
Rebeca Tébar	...	Chica Del Peaje (as Rebeca Tebar)
Simon Chandler	...	Primer Ministro Ingles
Marques D'Arede	...	Presidente de Portugal
Manuel Galiana	...	Primer Ministro Español
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Francisco Algora	...	Capataz Espana
Raúl Cano	...	Ayudante de Pedro
Luís Castro	...	Cientifico 3
Jose Luis Chavarria Perez	...	Sismologo
Sixto Cid	...	Entrevistador

Storyline

An inexplicable crack in the Pyrenees Mountains provokes excitement and scientific curiosity. As the geological fracture deepens and widens, the European community begins to disassociate itself from the calamity, and panic ensues among tourists and residents attempting to escape. When Spain and Portugal physically separate from the continent, the detached Iberian peninsula aimlessly floats off to sea, becoming home to a group of god-like humans.

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | full frontal female nudity | road movie | based on novel | 

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Taglines:

A strange journey of discovery in a world set adrift.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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User Reviews

A Light Fable about Fault-Finding

Don't be put off from this one. I'll try not to mislead: First, this is a *fable*, an allegorical story — no, not pretentious myth, and not at all meant to be taken literally (or technically!). Also, I don't think it's meant to be an "art film." Don't take it so seriously... but then again, take it seriously in another way; it is a cautionary tale.

Also, it was meant primarily for a European audience. Don't ask it to be a brash and blunt American movie. (Compare and contrast it, as an exercise, with the satiric tone found in "Wag the Dog.") Its tone is more like that of "Life Is Beautiful" perhaps, if you need comparison, but not as hokey.

Okay, it's a disaster film, yes, but it's also a love story with a point. It's light but it uses satire, and I can even almost see it rolling its eyes at the "reviewers" who smirk at its "lack of continuity" and "technical errors" - they miss the point, and likely have missed the boat which has already departed. (Hence the film's title.) (Don't look now, but in some ways, the world's already begun splitting beneath our feet...) I also don't know where the IMDb page's film description comes from (about "...a group of god-like humans"); absurd. But as it is with all fables, myths, or symbols, our pronouncements say more about us than about the item we discuss.

Go to the "external reviews" link, at the left, and read the sensible review by Roger Ebert, or the Village Voice's description ("... strikes a delicate balance between magical realism and biting political satire in this engaging allegory of failed pan-European aspirations").

Like those reviewers, I found the film highly enjoyable, full of heart and sincere, and having a great European sense of humor. I found myself wondering, as Mr. Ebert did, about things it brought up: about fault-finding (pun intended), about chaos theory, about the EU, and about what really matters ... and about what happens when we drift apart.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official Site [Spain]

Country:

Spain Portugal Netherlands

Language:

Spanish Portuguese

Release Date:

19 September 2002 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

A Jangada de Pedra

Filming Locations:

Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$329,766

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lusomundo, MGS Film, Sogecine

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color