Little Ashes

 

 

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For most of his life, Salvador Dali denied that he had ever been lovers with the tragic poet Federico García Lorca -- until the end of his life.

So, writer Philippa Goslett and director Paul Morrison explore what may have been in "Little Ashes," in which two young men become close friends, more-than-friends, only to have their relationship splinter apart. It's a powerful little story with astonishing acting by Robert Pattinson and Javier Beltran, but it tends to meander and shake way too much.

In the Madrid of 1922, a shy and awkward art student named Salvador Dali (Pattinson) is drawn into a circle of vibrant, iconoclastic young artists, including filmmaker Luis Buñuel (Matthew McNulty) and poet Federico García Lorca (Javier Beltran). Lorca in particular is intrigued by Dali, who is just discovering his unique melty surrealist style -- and it's not a platonic crush. And though initially he fights against the attraction, a trip to the seaside reveals Lorca's feelings to Dali.

But as their attraction grows, Buñuel feels shut out and tries to pull Dali out of Lorca's orbit -- and after an unsuccessful attempt to consummate their affair, Dali vanishes to Paris without a word. A possibly insulting movie and many years widen the split between them, until Lorca meets Dali, now world famous and in love with the "witch" Gala (Arly Jover). Dali has changed, and so has Spain -- with terrible results.

I know relatively little of either Dali or Lorca's lives, but it seems that "Little Ashes" is less about what happened than about what MIGHT have happened. Unfortunately it also falls prey to a common flaw in biographical movies, even if they're semi-fictionalized accounts -- it meanders randomly much of the time, and has awkward jumps between the different phases in the two men's lives. And what is up with Beltran suddenly reciting poetry in Spanish?

But if it meanders, it's a picturesque meander -- sunny streets of Madrid, shadowy apartments, rocky beaches, weird surrealist visions of Paris, and fun nightclubs where bright young artists congregate. Paul Morrison has a straightforward directorial style with few ups or downs, but there are some beautiful moments sprinkled throughout it -- such as a balletic swim in a moonlit blue sea, or the bittersweet final scenes for Lorca (interspersed with Dali frantically smearing black paint all over).

But this movie would be utterly forgettable if it weren't for the leads. Both are painfully magnificent, both in their chemistry and in their attempts to embody their characters. Beltran is a tragic figure who brims over with passion, sorrow and integrity, and somehow you know that things never end happily for this poor man. Marina Gatell has a small but well-acted role as a young woman passionately in love with Lorca, but obviously she can be nothing more than his friend (and once, a sexual proxy for Dali).

And Pattinson exudes almost Johnny-Depplike skill in almost becoming Dali. This is no glamorous "Twilight" role -- at first Pattinson plays him as a twitchy, painfully awkward and shy young man, but as Dali grows in confidence he also becomes more insistently eccentric and flamboyant, to the point where Lorca no longer recognizes him as a person. Mad laughter, insane grief, and all the time we're never quite sure what he's truly thinking about anything -- except, at the end, about Lorca himself.

"Little Ashes" is a flawed portrait covered in jewel-like paint -- the actors are truly astonishing in their skill, but the direction is a straightforward and spotty affair. And it's all the more tragic because at least some of it is true.

The year is 1922, and young Salvador Dalí arrives at the Students' Residence in Madrid, hoping to become a great surreal artist. He meets poet and writer Federico García Lorca and budding film maker Luis Buñuel and, though shy, joins their group of avant-garde friends. Lorca falls instantly in love with Dalí who returns his affections, to a point.

This low-budget, art-house biopic is poorly written and directed. We never learn anything about the personalities, talents, or inspirations of the three main characters and Dalí changes from morose student to flamboyant exhibitionist without explanation. Javier Beltran stars as García Lorca and is quite charismatic and sympathetic. Twilight's Robert Pattinson is badly miscast as Dalí, however, mumbling in a bad Spanish accent, avoiding eye contact, and looking uncomfortable and often quite silly on the screen.

The script wanders all over the place and becomes dull when Beltran is not on screen. There is no real drama or intensity, in spite of the longing glances and groping. Disappointing.

Littles Ashes, If you love Robert Pattinson (Salvatore Dali) like I do, you should see this movie. If your not afraid to break the image of a sensual vampire, you should see this movie. Javier Beltran (Federico Garcia Lorca)is very seductive. Excellent story of art and poetry. Forbidden love. Very sensual images. Excellent.
To be seen absolutely.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Loved it !
I found this story truly beautiful. I loved Javier Beltran, and I loved Robert Pattinson. The intensity between them is very well displayed, they are both truly skilled actors. Read more

Published on Feb 17 2010 by France-Andree

5.0 out of 5 stars Another amazing g&y story
My final thought for this movie was OMG! amazing story and thanks soo much to robert p for his work. Thanks to salvador too for sharing a bit of his life story with us. Read more

Published on Dec 1 2009 by Just Jon

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