Hierro reviews
Review by on 23 Sep 2009
Six months after losing her son on the way to El Hierro, single mother María returns to the island, where her child’s fate is thrown into question. El Hierro initially presents itself as a Spanish Royston Vasey, desaturated in colour and riddled with potential trailer park kidnappers. The two-dimensional police official assigned to the case muddies the water with his detachment and cryptic comments - “We all know each other here”. The narrative rhythm follows uncomfortable swells, an exhausting kinesis of throbbing engine and buzzing striplight peppered with discomfiting jump scares, then ebbs beautifully, tracing María’s gentle descent into madness. The grieving woman’s divorce from reality is cleverly depicted, her emotional and physical isolation all-embracing even in the lounge of a busy ferry. Zacarías M. de la Riva’s soundtrack references Bernard Hermann and Philip Glass, but the soundtrack and plotline are almost distractions from the visual feast of emotive imagery. Cinematographer Alejandro Martinez’ grand sensuality overwhelms story and screen with hymns to Brownian motion, from underwater detritus to shattering windshield. Director Gabe Ibanez’ lush advertising sensibility reverses raindrops and invites us to gorge on cluttered arthouse montage. Drifting back to earth from floating beauty to cruel reality, HIERRO culminates in a twist ending which you might anticipate with mistaken confidence. Following in the footsteps of BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING and DARK WATER, it is at once less apocryphal and less authentic than its peers. Juan “Orfanato” Bayona talent-spotted Gabe Ibanez and he is certainly one to watch out for.
ROSY HUNT
Six months after losing her son on the way to El Hierro, single mother María returns to the island, where her child’s fate is thrown into question. El Hierro initially presents itself as a Spanish Royston Vasey, desaturated in colour and riddled with potential trailer park kidnappers. The two-dimensional police official assigned to the case muddies the water with his detachment and cryptic comments - “We all know each other here”. The narrative rhythm follows uncomfortable swells, an exhausting kinesis of throbbing engine and buzzing striplight peppered with discomfiting jump scares, then ebbs beautifully, tracing María’s gentle descent into madness. The grieving woman’s divorce from reality is cleverly depicted, her emotional and physical isolation all-embracing even in the lounge of a busy ferry. Zacarías M. de la Riva’s soundtrack references Bernard Hermann and Philip Glass, but the soundtrack and plotline are almost distractions from the visual feast of emotive imagery. Cinematographer Alejandro Martinez’ grand sensuality overwhelms story and screen with hymns to Brownian motion, from underwater detritus to shattering windshield. Director Gabe Ibanez’ lush advertising sensibility reverses raindrops and invites us to gorge on cluttered arthouse montage. Drifting back to earth from floating beauty to cruel reality, HIERRO culminates in a twist ending which you might anticipate with mistaken confidence. Following in the footsteps of BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING and DARK WATER, it is at once less apocryphal and less authentic than its peers. Juan “Orfanato” Bayona talent-spotted Gabe Ibanez and he is certainly one to watch out for.ROSY HUNT
Film details
Hierro
MAIN FEATURES
Actor: Kaiet Rodriguez
Actor: Elena Anaya
Actor: Bea Segura
Director: Gabe Ibanez
Actor: Elena Anaya
Actor: Bea Segura
Director: Gabe Ibanez
Spain, 2009.
91 mins. Spanish with English subtitles.
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