I’m loving that Little Ashes is having more screenings across Australia. Paul Brennan let me know of a great review by Andrew L Urban of Urban Cinefile
“An intriguing film about an intriguing subject, Little Ashes is filled with marvellous cinematic images and a complex mood of socio-political revolution, artistic longing and considerable tenderness. It’s as complex as its subject matter, the artist Salvador Dali (Robert Pattinson) as a young man, an emerging artist forged – like his friends the writer Federico Lorca (Javier Beltran) and Luis Bunuel (Matthew McNulty) – in the fire of rebellion against the oppressive and rigid social, religious and political climate of Spain at the time.
Early in the film, Dali declares that he’s decided that if he is to succeed at art he must go to extremes; ‘no limits’ becomes his mantra. The film traces almost 20 years (jumping 8 of them) as Dali goes to Paris and becomes a success. But unlike many biopics of artists, we don’t follow him through his work but through his relationships with his early friends, relationships which are turbulent, but lasting. The 8 year jump dislocates us from Dali as we meet his new self – it’s like seeing a friend after 8 years without having any contact, without photos, without context. It slices the film in two, like the razor that slices through the eye in his famous first film collaboration in 1929, The Andalusian Dog, made with Luis Bunuel (a clip of which is shown).
Robert Pattinson is an unexpected choice to play Dali, though he does it well and with absolute commitment. Perhaps it was a commercially driven choice, part of the process that sees the film made in English, with the Spanish cast doing their best to make their lines understood through often heavy accents. But this is sometimes a necessity and one that can work well, as it does in the acclaimed The Last Station (2009), a partial biopic of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. The difference is that in The Last Station the cast was naturally English speaking, unlike here.
Language aside, Little Ashes is a snapshot of an insight into the life of one of the most complex artists in history and it intensifies rather than satisfies our curiosity about him. It is, however, revelatory about Dali’s relationship with Lorca.”
If you haven’t seen this film, please go along to one of the screenings because I totally agree with Andrew about Rob’s performance as Dali “he does it well and with absolute commitment” – that is 100% evident. I understand that it’s being shown in Brisbane from 1 April 2010 not 25 March as I previously said. Oh and Michelle I’m just waiting for confirmation that it’s definitely also being shown at The State, Hobart from that date too. For those interested in current screening times – there’s a widget on the side bar or you can go here.
thanks,it´wonderful movie
I’ve actualy got my hands on Little Ashes today.
I can not wait for my day off and some piece and quiet to watch it 🙂
I watched this movie three times ( I have it home on DVD). Beautiful movie, Robert is amazing like Dali, like Javier like Lorca. You can feel the emotions of that time and probably you would cry on the end of the movie, just like me.
It is so wonderful that LA is receving more screenings across Australia. This beautiful film so deserves to be seen & appreciated by many. Ohh Maria, am just SO SO excited about Hobart 😀 😀 😀
I saw this film, It beautiful, You can tell the emotions of Dalì and Lorca.
The actor did a great job.
I love Little Asshes.
Rob #1
Take that Margaret and David.
Looking forward to seeing it again on Saturday!
Margaret and David who?????? LOL
So good to see so many people getting to see this on the big screen! Am VERY excited for you especially Michelle, has now renewed my hope to see it on the big screen!
Well done M&M’s I know you are doing all you can to make this happen 🙂
i have this dvd, its such an awesome movie and a great love story even though its the guys, its heartbreaking. he is so much more than just edward cullen, i loved remember me also, fantastic although i was severely depressed for 24 hours after!!!!!!
Up until RM, LA was my fav Rob movie. I recognise I’m still too emotional about RM to make a final judgment but it’s going to be close. I’ll wait until I own the RM DVD ( that is SO exciting, in itself). I win either way.
Javier was brillant in LA and the movie is so beautiful to look at.