Genre: Drama
Duration: 125 minuten
Alternative title: The Sea Inside
Country:
Spain / France / Italy
Directed by: Alejandro Amenábar
Stars: Javier Bardem, Lola Dueñas and Belén Rueda
IMDb score:
7,9 (89.663)
Releasedate: 3 September 2004
Mar Adentro plot
"Sensitive Drama About a Polemic Theme"
Ramón (Javier Bardem) has been helpless in his bed for almost 30 years, under the care of his family. His only view of life is the window of his room, near the sea he once loved to travel and where he suffered the accident that ended his childhood. Since that accident, his goal has been to end his life in a dignified way. The arrival of two women disrupts his world: Julia (Belén Rueda) is a lawyer who wants to help him in his struggle and Rosa (Lola Dueñas) the village neighbor who wants to convince him that life outweighs the pain. Ramón's personality captivates the women, leading them to explore the principles that govern their own lives. Ramón knows that only she who truly loves him can be the one to help him achieve his ultimate goal.
Actors and actresses
Ramón Sampedro
Julia
Rosa
Joaquín
Padre Francisco
Manuela
José
Gené
Germán
Javi
Reviews & comments
Baboesjka
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- 891 messages
- 2083 votes
A very beautiful, strong and moving film. Great acting and a story that really appeals to me. I don't have many words for it. A gem. 4.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
Mar adentro is a handsome modest film about the life of a paralyzed man who begs for euthanasia. The film reminded me in many ways of the similar Le Scaphandre et le Papillon (2007). Mar adentro tells the story of Ramón Sampedro who is confined to his bed for decades after a dive in shallow water. He is tired of life without dignity and wishes to go. Although it is unclear why he has that wish just now, the wish comes in very intensely and authentically.
The beauty of the film is the difficult balance that Alejandro Amenábar tries to find in the screenplay. He does not speak out against or in favor of euthanasia and gives the floor to both 'parties' with numerous arguments. In Spain, which is still very Catholic - certainly among the older guard - euthanasia is out of the question and it is not up to a person to judge whether his life has value or not. Amenábar also shows that life is worth living, even if it is hard or difficult. Javier Bardem delivers a phenomenal performance with the determinedly warm Ramón Sampedro. He single-handedly lifts the entire film to a higher level. Unfortunately, the other characters are a bit too much in the shadow of this.
The film is full of beautiful dialogues - sometimes cynical in nature - that at times have something philosophical such as: "a wheelchair is only a crumb of the lost freedom I have". Laughter is therefore the only emotion left to him. Take the mental flight to the sea to the tunes of Puccini's Nessun Dorma and you create a certain sympathy for Sampedro's death wish. Paradoxically, despite his desire, I found Sampedro to be a person with sufficient vitality and joy in the way he communicated with others. Very strong film, rightly awarded at the time. Good looking!
Translated from Dutch · View original
IH88
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- 9903 messages
- 3205 votes
“Freedom without a life is not freedom.”
“A life without freedom is not a life.”
Impressive movie. Bardem is unparalleled as a man who has spent years paralyzed in bed, and would prefer to commit euthanasia. But in religious Spain this is not so easy, and the role of the church is incorporated in the story in a sad but sometimes humorous way (the scene in the house with the pastor). Actresses Rueda, Dueñas and Rivera are also great and especially Rueda's role as lawyer Julia, who herself suffers from severe migraine attacks and already knows that she will not recognize anyone in a while, is impressive. Her last scene will stay with me for a while. Just like the last scenes with Bardem.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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