We Review the Rob Pattinson Film "Little Ashes"
Little Ashes is a romantic and moving tale about three aspiring young artists, painter Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Bunuel, and poet/dramatist Federico Garcia Lorca, who become close friends while studying at Madrid's Residencia de Estudiantes in 1922. Twilight's Robert Pattinson plays the young Dali. In revolt against the forces of conformity, these artists represented a generation of Spain's brightest young minds who recognized the transformative role of the artist and they went on to be counted among the most influential of the 20th century. Their story of youthful exuberance, conflicting desires, and complicated creative and romantic liaisons is set against the perilous backdrop of political and social unrest that lead up to the Spanish Civil War. [Editor's Warning: This film is rated "R" for sexual content, language and a brief, "disturbing image", whatever that is supposed to be, so make your filmgoing choice accordingly].
The eccentric 18-year-old Salvador Dali arrives at the university determined to become a great artist. His bizarre combination of shyness and flamboyant exhibitionism attracts the attention of Bunuel and Garcia Lorca who invite him to join their decadent group of fellow artists. Dali finds himself increasingly drawn towards the charismatic Garcia Lorca who is mutually attracted but conflicted about their relationship because of his Catholicism. His good friend and fellow writer Magdalena (Marina Gatell) also has her eyes on Garcia Lorca. She encourages him to keep faith with his beliefs, his roots and his work and eventually forces him to come to terms with his sexuality when she brazenly seduces him in front of Dali.
Garcia Lorca invites Dali to spend a holiday in the sea-side town of Cadaques near Dali's family home where their love affair begins with an innocent kiss during a romantic moonlit skinny dip and evolves amidst the idyllic surroundings into something much deeper that enables them to share their most profound beliefs, inspirations and secrets and forge a unique friendship. When Dali's sexual hang-ups prevent him from consummating their love, they become powerful soul mates who find their most perfect union in a potent meeting of the minds. Their love for one another gives the film its shape and dramatic spine.
The homophobic Bunuel feels increasingly isolated by Dali and Garcia Lorca's intimacy and sets off for Paris in search of his own artistic success. Dali becomes overwhelmed by Lorca's infatuation with him and abandons him to fulfill his artistic ambitions in Paris as well. Bunuel and Dali collaborate on the controversial film, "Un Chien Andalou," which Garcia Lorca interprets as a vicious personal attack. He feels betrayed and disillusioned because their love has fallen victim to Dali's narcissism and ambition. As the years pass, Dali enjoys a successful career in Paris while Lorca vigorously pursues his politically-charged writing and tours Spain with his theater group.
Little Ashes is first and foremost an actor's movie that's truthful and beautiful, intimate and spare, and where performances dominate. Pattinson delivers a colorful yet soulful, nuanced turn as the shy but brilliant Salvador Dali who pursued notoriety and became an early equivalent of a tabloid news hound, seeking celebrity. He captures the fascinating spirit, flashy eccentricity and artistic sensibility of the surrealist painter who flirted with fascism, excelled at self promotion, and concealed his sensitivity and vulnerability behind outrageous poses and charades. In one revealing scene, he stands before a mirror trying on various outfits attempting to reinvent himself by changing his style. Finally, he removes all his clothes and stares at his naked image in the mirror as if the artist in him suddenly realizes that in order to succeed at this task he must strip away all traces of his former facde and start out with a blank, fresh canvas. He will repeat this process of erasure and reinvention many times throughout his career.
Pattinson's role in Little Ashes is evocative of his turn as the love-smitten vampire, Edward Cullen, in Twilight. Both characters are tormented by a forbidden love that they are unable to consummate, although for vastly different reasons. Edward refuses to make love to Bella because he cares deeply about her and is afraid he'll hurt her. He will do anything to protect her from harm even if it's at his own expense. On the other hand, Dali is unable to consummate his relationship with Lorca out of fear he will hurt himself. He's more intrigued by the rebellious nature that a homosexual relationship represents than in truly being a homosexual and his narcissistic nature makes him oblivious to how his actions may hurt Lorca.
Javier Beltran, in his feature acting debut, turns in a strong performance as the passionately romantic Garcia Lorca who is obsessed with Dali. The genuine chemistry between Pattinson and Beltran makes their relationship convincing. McNulty offers an understated performance as Bunuel who makes no pretense of his disdain for the homosexual Lorca.
While the story takes place in the 1920s, the themes of love, friendship, intolerance and the potential power of art to transform are universal and timeless. While the pace moves quickly through the first act as the characters' relationships and the tension between them are firmly established, it stumbles in the second and third acts when Dali and Garcia Lorca abruptly part company, then reunite temporarily eight years later as the Spanish Civil War begins.
The film was shot on location in Spain, is beautifully lit and mirrors the sensibilities, styles and imagery of Dali and Garcia Lorca. This is a sensual film, both simple and rich, with luminous, magical and spacious landscapes. The film's name is inspired by an early surreal painting by Dali entitled Cenecitas (little ashes) which was intended to be a disguised portrait of Lorca. When Dali presents it to him in the film, Garcia Lorca remarks that Dali's painting will be seen by people long after they are both gone, when nothing remains of their former existence except 'little ashes'.
Little Ashes is a beautiful, tasteful, and thought-provoking film that examines the ephemeral nature of love and friendship while exploring themes of homosexuality, intolerance, and the power of art in a conservative society dominated by the Catholic Church and the Spanish military. The fun, humor and anarchic excitement of these artists' early lives ultimately lead to a legacy that lives on in their art. The film proves that, as an actor, Rob Pattinson can inhabit much more than the snow-white skin of a tortured, love smitten vampire.
Little Ashes is now playing
