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Little Ashes
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Wikipedia article
'Little Ashes' is a 2008 Spanish-British drama film set against the backdrop of Spain during the 1920s and 1930s, as three of the era's most creative young talents meet at university and set off on a course to change their world. Luis Buuel watches helplessly as the friendship between surrealist painter Salvador Dal and the poet Federico Garca Lorca develops into a love affair.
'Little Ashes' won the GLAAD Media Award for "Outstanding FilmLimited Release" during the 21st GLAAD Media Awards.
Plot
In 1922, 18-year-old Salvador Dal (Robert Pattinson) arrives at art school in Madrid. The 'Residencia de Estudiantes', or Students' Residence, is a modern environment which encourages Spain's brightest young minds. Salvador, who is determined to become a great artist, soon catches the attention of the 'Resi's social elite poet Federico Garca Lorca (Javier Beltrn) and aspiring filmmaker Luis Buuel (Matthew McNulty). Together, they form the nucleus of the most modern artist group in Madrid.
Their private lives become increasingly complex, as Federico ignores the advances of devoted friend and writer Magdalena (Marina Gatell), and Salvador himself feels the pull of Federico's magnetism. Luis, becoming increasingly isolated by the duo's closeness, decides to move to Paris to fulfill his own artistic ambitions. Meanwhile, Salvador and Federico leave Madrid to spend the summer at the seaside village of Cadaques, at the home of Dal's family.
Federico finds himself acceptedAccording to Ian Gibson, Lorca was "utterly at home with his hosts and by now hopelessly involved with Salvador" into the Dal family as he and Salvador grow closer until, one night, their friendship becomes romantic.[http://www.ariafilms.co.uk/projects/LittleAshes.pdf] Even as they draw closer, their relationship appears doomed. Luis visits them at university and becomes more suspicious and appalled by their apparent intimacy.
Salvador finds Federico's obsession more than he is prepared to handle, and eventually leaves for Paris. Enveloped by the high society and decadence there, Salvador is soon entangled with Gala (Arly Jover), a married woman with a penchant for celebrities. When Federico visits, he finds his friend is a changed man, both in his life and his politics.
Background
Details of the relationship between artist Salvador Dal and poet Federico Garca Lorca have long been the subject of speculation and debate among historians and biographers. In 'Little Ashes', Dal's and Lorca's feelings are shown deepening into a love affair that the sexually repressed painter tries (but fails) to consummate.
Between 1925 and 1936, during the course of their friendship, Dal and Lorca exchanged numerous letters. The original manuscripts of Dal's letters to Lorca are held by the 'Fundacin Federico Garca Lorca' in Madrid, and those of Lorca to Dal are held by 'Fundacion Gala-Salvador Dal' in Pubol, as well as in private collections. While it is widely acknowledged that Lorca was infatuated with Dal, for years the painter denied entering into a relationship with Lorca.
Dal stated:
The film's writer Philippa Goslett supposes:
Biographer of both Dal and Lorca, Ian Gibson, stated:
In the repressed Spain of the mid 1930s, Lorca's homosexuality seems to have provided an additional thrill to those who assassinated him in 1936. Lorca's biographer Leslie Stainton has suggested that the killers made remarks about his sexual orientation
Cast
* Robert Pattinson as Salvador Dal
* Javier Beltrn as Federico Garca Lorca
* Matthew McNulty as Luis Buuel
* Marina Gatell as Magdalena
* Bruno Oro as Paco
* Esther Nubiola as Adela
* Marc Pujol as Carlos
* Arly Jover as Gala Dal
* Simn Andreu as Fernando del Valle
* Vicky Pea as Magdalena's aunt
* Rubn Arroyo as Rafael
* Diana Gmez as Ana Mara
* Pep Sais as Art Teacher
* Joan Pic as Young Officer
* Ferran Aud as Guard 1
* Adra Allu as Guard 2
* Ferran Lahoz as Seor Milagro
* Cristian Rodrigo as Young Journalist
* Sue Flack as Madam
* Adrian Devant as Puppeteer
* Ramn Enrich as Professor
* Xavi Siles as Man 1
* Philippa Goslett and Hannah Rtzou as Federico's Sisters
* Paco Alonso as Gypsy Singer
Production
The title is taken from Salvador Dal's 192728 painting 'Cenicitas' ('Little Ashes').[http://www.abcgallery.com/D/dali/dali2.html Colour reproduction of painting 'Cenicitas'] It was originally called 'The Birth of Venus', before being changed to 'Sterile Efforts' and then finally 'Cenicitas'.The Shameful life of Salvador Dal p 162 It was first displayed on 20 March 1929 in a Madrid exhibition.Salvador Dal An Illustrated Life, Tate Publishing It was again displayed in his first solo exhibition in Paris in June 1931.Salvador Dal An Illustrated Life, Tate Publishing The painting is currently in the Dal collection of the 'Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofa' in Madrid.
Release
'Little Ashes' premiered at the 16th annual Raindance Film Festival in London. The sold-out screening was scheduled on 7 October 2008 at 19:00, and a second screening was also added for 8 October at 14:30.[http://www.raindance.co.uk/site/index.php?id=270,2493,0,0,1,0&highlight=Li Little Ashes | Raindance Film Festival 2008] 'Little Ashes' premiered in the US at the Miami Gay & Lesbian film festival. On 8 May 2009 it premiered in only 11 US locations.
The UK DVD was released on 13 July 2009 and is rated 15.[http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=224;5;71;-1;2&sku=958158 HMV | Music, Films, & Games | HMV.com] The US DVD was released on 26 January 2010.
Critical reception
The film holds a "Rotten" rating of 24% based on 70 reviews with an average rating of 4.2 out of 10 on the film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The site's consensus states, "It has a beautiful cast, but 'Little Ashes' suffers from an uneven tone and a surplus of unintentionally silly moments."
Ty Burr of the 'Boston Globe' panned the film and wrote: "What's intended to be a daring look at repressed sexuality, three-ways and all, has the dramatic heft of a true-love comic book".[http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/05/22/dali_lorca_buuel___for_teens/ Little Ashes movie review Little Ashes Showtimes The Boston Globe The Boston Globe]
Greg Quill of the 'Toronto Star' wrote: "Even cinematographer Adam Suschitzky's richly textured and resonantly toned cityscapes and rural scenes can't make up for a flawed script and weak performances in what might have been a powerful historical drama".[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2009/05/22/little_ashes_historical_kiss_off.html Little Ashes: Historical kiss off | Toronto Star]
Chris Hewitt of the 'St. Paul Pioneer Press' commented that: "The movie, with its badly painted backdrops, its stiff acting and its complete lack of dramatic momentum, is embarrassing to watch".[http://www.twincities.com/movies/ci_12518327 'Little Ashes': What's left whenyour little movie can't get stoked - TwinCities.com]
However, Steven Rea of the 'Philadelphia Inquirer' gave the film a positive review by calling it: "A bravely earnest and gauzy bit of biography".[http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/movies/20090626__Little_Ashes___Dal_and_Lorca_in_love.html 'Little Ashes': Dal and Lorca in love - philly-archives]
References
Further reading
* [https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/oct/28/spain.books "Were Spain's Two Artistic Legends Secret Gay Lovers?", 'The Guardian' (28 October 2007)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100401042334/http://www.ariafilms.co.uk/projects/LittleAshes.pdf Aria film synopsis]
* George E. Haggerty, 'Gay Histories and Cultures'
* Ian Gibson, 'The Shameful Life of Salvador Dal'
* 'Salvador Dal: An Illustrated Life', Tate Publishing
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