Film Festival 09 - Camino
CaminoSpain
2008, 143m
Director: Javier Fesser
Festivals: San Sebastian 2008
Sensationally entertaining and entertainingly sensational, Camino
is the boldest of cinematic assaults on Opus Dei and the first to
match box office success with genuinely subversive intent. The
major Spanish film of the year, it's been a huge, controversial hit
and winner of Goya Awards for Best Film, Director, Screenplay and
Actress. Writer/director Javier Fesser has based his film on the
case of Alexia Gonzalez-Barros, a devoutly Catholic Spanish girl
whose 'exemplary' hospital death in 1985 at the age of 14 has
become the focus of a cult of sainthood. Fesser is as transfixed as
any true believer by the 'inspiring' spectacle of a lively young
girl - 11-year-old Camino - going happily to her death. It's her
effect on those who surround her, beginning with her pious mother
(toxically smug Carmen Elias), that renders him livid. While they
urge Camino to give thanks for every new setback sent to test her
beatitude, Fesser revels with her in an imaginative world where the
school production of Cinderella and the boy playing Prince Charming
occupy much more space than God or the Devil. - BG
"Cinematic excess is harnessed to savagely entertaining satirical
effect in Javier Fesser's dazzling, idiosyncratic Camino, which
manages to mix styles and genres without losing its way. Often
hilarious despite dealing with a dying young girl, often gruelingly
dark despite being a celebration of teen love, the picture also
launches an unbridled attack on organized religion and false
consolations offered by unquestioning faith. A heady brew, Camino
breaks the rules while carrying the viewer happily through a
visually spectacular two hours plus." - Jonathon Holland,
Variety
In Spanish with English subtitles
