elisa m
Great example of good story telling with limited budget. A group of characters are forced to confront their fears and each others. In the background, a beautiful Spanish villa. Writer/director Nathan Buck does a great job in writing complex characters and directing skilled actors.
It's a drama about life and death who takes you on a journey with the characters as they discover secrets and truths about themselves and their friends. Like in The Big Chill, there's an absent character whose presence though is very strong.
The plot is original and universal at the same time. Everyone could related to those fears and conflicts.
Strongly recommended.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
04/27/23
Full Review
Jody M
happen to love a film that engages you so thoroughly that it is easy to forget you are watching a film. This is the case with this mesmerizing film written and directed by Nathan Buck. I found the pacing to draw me into each character without a feeling of self indulgence. Quite a difficult thing to do.
The opening with our hitchhiker Alex (Nahema Riccio) lets the viewer know immediately that there is a mystery about to unfold. When we meet up with Beth (Tillman Holmqvist) and Gregory (Philippe Brenninkmeyer) it is unclear what their relationship is, which makes things all the more interesting for me.
The actors had such honest and real performances that it felt like we were eves dropping on their visit with Leah (tara Lynn Orr). They all glided into their conversations. We were invited into their inner thoughts by just watching them. Their inner voice was quite audible to the viewer.
I was trying to figure out what the ultimate secret was and failed! I found that all the more intriguing.
There were so many levels to these relationships and the way each of their stories intertwined that it kept me guessing what the outcome would eventually be. When I finally found out that secret, I could feel the deep pain with each actor...the receiver of the news as well as the giver of the information. How that rippled out to everyone else.
I felt all the performances were wonderful. The character Andres (Amr Wakes) was the glue that held everyone together. I thought his performance was so strong and played with so much restraint that it was hard not to want to see a lot more of him.
I would recommend this film for the solid acting, the beautiful cinematography, and all the technical aspects of film, and mostly the wonderful direction and well written script of Nathan Buck.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
04/26/23
Full Review
Indy S
This is a gorgeous, visually stunning film set in a beautiful location, with evocative moody music that works hand in hand to take the viewer on a hypnotic journey into love, loss and the secrets that transform us. There is a compelling style and tone to the film, which adds to the sense of mystery and intrigue, that kept me curious about every next moment. The characters were complex, honest and relatable. The cast is phenomenal, offering beautiful nuanced performances, especially the vibrant and surprising Nahema Ricci. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys good cinema!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
04/23/23
Full Review
Anne-Laure M
Ex-ce-llent! "Under Spanish Skies" has an irreproachable cast, a well-developed and captivating script and music that perfectly matches each scene. The story is about the long-lasting friendship of two couples that turns out to be full of unspoken words, lies and complex feelings. After the death of one of them, they question their relationship against a backdrop of a Shakespearean drama, making us think about our friendship's values and how we would manage to deal with the loss of a loved one. This incredible indie movie is a truly beautiful film full of tenderness, emotions and unexpected twists, all set in a beautiful landscape that would rather aspire to a peaceful weekend than to a delicate but necessary introspection. This film is definitely worth watching and I wish it the huge success it deserves.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
03/24/23
Full Review
Julian H
In the film Under Spanish Skies, there is a lot to like in terms of scenery, acting, and plot. The story revolves around an artist who makes a death pact with her former mate and the secrets between each of the guests that join her during her last days. The first aspect of Under Spanish Skies is the beautiful scenery. The location, wildlife, beautiful mornings, lovely sunsets and warm nights fit the film amazingly. The music also puts the viewer straight into Spain and compliments the flashbacks. The complicated threads tie each character to the other and showcases that each individual has a secret. Some secrets are more selfish than others. While all of the characters performed well, I truly enjoyed Amr Waked as Andres. His screen presence, accent, and acting chops captured my attention. It was an original concept that was incredibly well done by the writer and director Nathan Buck.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/26/23
Full Review
David T
Nathan Buck's masterfully shot "Under Spanish Skies" is rife with beautiful images of the Spanish landscape. The story reminds me of Hemingway's "Hill Like White Elephants." Similar to Hemingway's Iceberg theory to writing, Nathan relies on subtext to drive the story, allowing the audience to take a more active role in the interpretation of the story. The acting is phenomenal, with powerful performances by Amr Waked, Philippe Brenninkmeyer, Nahéma Ricci, Tara Lynn Orr, and Tullan Holmqvist. The story is haunting and beautiful – a thematic study of loss, love, and human emotion. I highly recommend this film!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/12/23
Full Review
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