Ay dios mio, what an awful film. Spanish film ‘Everybody Knows’ is two hours and thirteen minutes of drab acting that seemingly even gives up on its self at times, with sincere pauses and sighing being the foundational ‘bread and butter’ that this film is built upon. The movie plods along like an overburdened donkey ready to collapse at any given moment, though excruciatingly and miraculously somehow keeps the same laboured tempo, wearily tramping on.
By the end of the screening I was begging, pleading for it to be over.
The story opens with a family heading to a wedding, anticipating the joyful reunion of family and friends at this happy occasion. On arrival, a convincing picture is painted of the laid-back life and freedom enjoyed by those living in this picturesque, medieval Spanish village. After the formal ceremony, a raucous party is held. Amid the celebrations the teenage daughter of the family is kidnapped, having retired to her bed after having a few too many. When it is realised, she is missing a rather panicked search ensues. Up until this point I was loosely gripped, anticipating the potential for a movie described as a drama/thriller. The sound scape of the movie beautifully captured the atmospheric, elemental and rugged landscapes of Spain with pouring torrential rain and dusty, sun dappled courtyards where friends meet to drink and chat. As the film progressed, it became apparent that this was the height of the enjoyment and I was going to get from this piece. The sheer length of the movie really didn’t play to its favour, the novelty of the cinematic effects, fancy camera angles and the sound scape created quickly died off, amounting to the feeling of watching your Grandma’s favourite, slightly glammed up, yet very long and boring episode of EastEnders. With every soap-opera cliché un-gamely shoved in, from ‘whos the farther?’ to ‘whosdunit?’.
The point of the film is perhaps to hark back to typical traditional narratives, but the effect is diluted in the sheer length of the piece. By the end of the screening I was begging, pleading for it to be over.
Rating: 1/5 stars
