The Night Of The Sunflowers Reviews

A great debut!

Saw this film at the previews in London and it's a brilliantly conceived, very simple yet hugely atmospheric film. Anyone who knows the area of Spain it is set in (rural Catalunya) will benefit even more from its portrait of that particular culture, but the story alone as well as the briilliant acting is definitely strong enough to make this a very worth-while watch.

Its well-plotted sotryline and clever editing are not too apparent until you reach the second half but if you like deep psychological portraits, well drawn characters, suspenseful thrillers (this is no who dunnit by the way!) and a very moving story mixed with beautiful cinematography, try this one - you won't regret it even if the subtitles require some effort (and do watch it in the original language, it adds so much more to the film!)

[Highly rated reviewer]

Didn't watch this

Have had this for a while so am sending it back unwatched as I don't feel in the mood for it at the moment.

waffle

Nice atmosphere. For a while, anyway. But ultimately, this is a tedious and irrelevant piece of work. I tried over four separate nights to watch this, as I was so full of hope for a great effort, but fell asleep every evening before four scenes each night. Given that this is his first effort, the Director is only likely to produce more tedium in his career, so dont hold your breath for something great from him. This film is only for those who struggle to be as arty as possible when they are, in fact, vacuous, middleclass and desparate for something to make themselves appear interesting at dinnerpaties.

bit slow

this film was a bit slow but ok

[Highly rated reviewer]

didnt watch it

didnt realise it was subtitled

terrific thriller

a terrific thriller in the Hitchcockian mode.PLEASE don't let the fact that it is in Spanish put you off.Surely you young things with your regular visits to Spain can cope with that.It starts with a real McGuffin,and then goes on to cope with human emotions and the plight of rural Spain in the present day

[Highly rated reviewer]

artful psychological thriller

This is a very good psychological thriller (Spanish subtitles) - with a relevant and profound moral about the collapse of communities. Had us captivated from the start and intelligent use is made of what seems to be 'flashback' episodes which are used more as positions of perspective so that the audience begins to see, with their own eyes, what is REALLY happening. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a well-written thriller. The film makes the point about communities literally vanishing/decaying which, in a way, seems to make the 'job' of the psycopath so much easier. Profound. If you like this film you should also try 'The Vanishing' 1988 by George Sluizer (again subtitled but it's so good you forget about it after 2 minutes!)

Sub titles

Didn't watch this as I didn't know it was in Spanish - sent straight back.

sensational

What a sensational and involving film. This is an adult thriller that lingers long in the mind afterwards. It is Bold, intelligent and features beautiful photography. If you like to be made to think then I can’t recommend this film highly enough.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Outstanding - one of the finest Spanish thrillers I've seen

This is a great thriller, which uses a storytelling method that I am most fond of: telling the same story over again from different perspectives, until we piece it all together. This is a superb debut that keeps you guessing, and even though you know what happens, each segment, each story, reveals a little more. I cannot wait to see more of this director/scriptwriter's work. Outstanding.

Probably the best Spanish thriller I've seen since 'Tésis', and that's saying a lot. Great acting, believable characterisation and story, and excellent cinematography. Can you ask for more?