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The Skin of the Wolf
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Wikipedia article
'The Skin of the Wolf' is a 2017 Spanish drama film directed by Samu Fuentes. It stars Mario Casas, Irene Escolar and Ruth Daz. The film was theatrically released in Spain on 9 March 2018.
Plot
The film opens with an unspecified year but is probably around WWII, as the rifle he carries appears to be a German KAR98, which was introduced in 1935 as the standard German infantry rifle. It is possible he could have obtained it during the Spanish Civil War, ca. 1936 to 1939, but it would have been a German frontline weapon at that time. The local townspeople do not appear to have all the modern comforts of the era with exception of electricity. The main character Martinon is a huntsman who lives a life of solitude completely without modern day comforts high on a mountain top in an abandoned town, which appears to have been ravaged by war. Martinon's life is that of "hard-living". The terrain near Martinon's home is rocky with steep hills, which are surrounded by a dense forest filled with wildlife. Martinon's daily routine consists of maintaining the land in front of his house, tending to his goats and hunting for wolves so that he can trade their skins. All this is done through the harsh bitter cold mountain weather. Martinon's physical appearance, tall and muscular with shaggy hair and a bushy beard, intimidates those he encounters. Occasionally, Martinon makes the two day journey down the mountain to the local town to sell the wolf skins he harvested.
During a visit to the local town, inside a bar Martinon is attempting to sell some newly caught wolf skins to the mayor, who haggles with him over the price and authenticity of the skins. Afterwards, Martinon discusses the exchange with the bar owner Severino. Severino suggests to Martinon that he should consider marriage and starting a family to pass on his property as his legacy. Martinon considers the suggestion but points out that the conditions of his life in the mountains are no place for children or a wife. On his way out of town Martinon has sex with a local woman, Pascuala, and considers her to be a suitable wife. Martinon makes a deal with Pascuala's father, Ubaldo.
Martinon leaves town with Pascuala as his wife. Pascuala adapts to her new home life with ease, but begins showing signs of an unknown illness through consistent coughing. Pascuala also tells Martinon that she is pregnant. Martinon shows no verbal or facial expressions on how he feels about the pregnancy, but begins to create a baby crib. Pascuala's illness worsens, resulting with a difficult pregnancy. Bedridden Pasculua dies while giving birth to a stillborn baby boy, while Martinon is tending to the goats.
Visibly saddened and frustrated because of the deaths of his wife and son, Martinon breaks the baby crib he created. While attempting to bury their bodies, Martinon burst into a fit of anger and begins knocking down the headstones on the older surrounding graves of the graveyard. Martinon brings the bodies of his wife and the baby boy to Ubaldo, and accuses him of knowing that Pasculua was sick and pregnant with someone else's child upon joining him. Ubaldo concedes to the accusations, stating that he was afraid that Pascuala's reputation would be ruined. He'd hoped that once Pascuala had her baby, people would believe that Martinon was the father, since they were living together. Martinon berates Ubaldo for not being a good father and demands his money back. Ulbaldo begs Martinon for time to collect the money. Martinon gives him until the next spring to pay.
When Martinon goes back to Ubaldo to collect his money, rifle in hand, Ubaldo instead of money offers his youngest daughter, Adela, to Martinon. He says Adela will join him, provided that he marry her. Martinon accepts Adela and the next day they are married. After the wedding, Ubaldo apologizes to Adela for the impromptu marriage. He pleads with Adela not to run away, but instead to attempt to adapt to the situation, because should she run away, Martinon would look for her and also come after Ubaldo. Here father then gives Adela a red cloth, later revealed to contain herbs, telling her to use it should her situation become unbearable.
Adela leaves with Martinon on the journey back to the top of the mountain. The walk is strenuous for Adela, causing Martinon to stop repeatedly to give her water. Adela does not adapt to her new life, which features brutal sex forced upon her and a complete lack of human connection with Martinon, who regards her as a piece of property. One day Martinon informs Adela that he will be gone for trading for four days. Martinon warns Adela to be careful of the wild life in the forest, should she venture outside the abandoned town. While alone for four days, Adela inspects the ruined buildings of the abandoned town and the nearby cemetery, where she notices two open graves. Upon Martinon's return, Adela asks for whom they were intended. Martinon replies that "they're not graves, just holes". This response upsets Adela and she begins to walk away when Martinon tells her that Pascuala's death was her father's fault because Ubaldo traded Pascuala knowing she was sick and pregnant. Martinon also tells Adela that Ubaldo did the same trade with her. Adela calls Martinon a liar and walks away.
Later Martinon observes Adela staring tearfully out into the distance. While looking at herself in the mirror Adela realizes she is pregnant. Though Martinon shows no verbal or facial reaction, he prepares a baby crib and makes breakfast for Adela in the mornings. Martinon also begins to reduce any strenuous activities for Adela. One day while cleaning a wolf skin, Adela becomes frustrated, and resolves to poison Martinon's food with the herbs her father gave her. Martinon unknowingly eats the poisoned foods and soon becomes sick, vomiting daily. Adela appears pleased with herself and decides to run away while Martinon is out hunting. While running down the mountain Adela steps on one of the traps set by Martinon, preventing her from properly running and walking.
When Martinon returns home to find Adela gone he immediately searches the ruined buildings of the town. The next morning he follows Adela's tracks and discovers her passed out under some fallen trees. Martinon takes Adela home to nurse her back to health. While wrapping the unconscious Adela's frost bitten feet Martinon observes Adela having a miscarriage. Adela becomes strong enough to walk around the house. Adela sorrowfully tells Martinon that she lost the baby. Martinon is quiet, as he is already aware. Martinon tells Adela that once she fully recovers, she can return to her family. When Adela asks why, Martinon only replies that the days are shorter so she'll have to leave early. Adela shows a mix of happiness and remorsefulness while standing outside alone, and she eventually leaves.
Martinon is left alone in his home. He soon discovers Adela's hidden canister of poisonous herbs. Martinon stands outside silently crying to himself while staring out into the distance. The film ends with Martinon in bed looking up at the ceiling alone in his house while the darkness settles around him, with his rifle by his side. As the scene pulls away, the door to Martinon's house has been left wide open to a cold snowy evening
Cast
Production
The film is writer/director Samu Fuentes' debut feature.
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 67% based on 9 reviews, with an average rating of 5.50/10.
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 14th Seville European Film Festival on 3 November 2017.
Distributed by Alfa Pictures, the film was theatrically released in Spain on 9 March 2018. The film was released on 6 July 2018 on Netflix.
References
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