Educational Media Reviews Online

Close Your Eyes begins and ends with a still of a Janus-like statue – a single bust with a youthful man’s face looking toward the future and an older, wizened man’s face gazing toward the past. This is a succinct snapshot of the plot of this movie, in which a former movie director (Miguel) seeks answers for the long-ago mysterious disappearance of his best friend, lead actor Julio, during the filming of the director’s last and ultimately unfinished film. The narrative of this film leads the viewer on a winding journey through the possible motivations that could have led to Julio’s disappearance, including a stated fear of aging and losing relevance as a popular heart-throb actor.

The quality of the video in the film clearly communicates scenes in the present versus scenes from the unreleased film shot just before Julio’s disappearance. Despite the time frame, most of the scenes in this film are dark and moody, lending an air of seriousness and gloom. The few scenes with brighter lighting and more striking color are typically those that are uncoupled with the ongoing drama of the movie – scenes where Miguel, the main character, is unobserved and simply existing in the moment. Throughout the movie, the viewer is confronted with the theme of loss through aging, whether it be reflected in the loss of older film technology or the loss of memories. How does one find peace when everything one knows has been washed away? Is it possible to be at peace when you have lost everything you once knew, including yourself? What is truth when most of the people who were there to witness it are no longer around to share their experiences?

This film is recommended for a general adult audience. Close Your Eyes involves speech in several languages, so this film may be more difficult to follow for those who are less comfortable with subtitles.

Awards:
2024 Carmen Awards Best Film; 2024 CEC Medals Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor (José Coronado), Best Supporting Actress (Ana Torrent); 2024 Goya Awards Best Supporting Actor (José Coronado); 2024 Platino Awards Best Supporting Actor (José Coronado); Best Non-U.S. Release, Online Film Critics Society Awards; Best Picture, International Cinephile Society Awards; Best Director, International Cinephile Society Awards

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