O Que Arde

Heraclitus declared fire as the essential element, the destructive and constructive force: "all things are exchanged for fire and fire for all things" (Fragments). Amador (meaning "lover") is in love with fire, with the essential force of nature. That's why he stays away from society, from people. Like Jesus, he tries to love a woman, but quickly sees that it is in vain. He is destined for bigger things-which are here "smaller" things. A beauty delivered through ugliness, with slow meditation.

Pensive and deliberately obscure portrait of Arias' "firebird" returned to roost works best when it focuses on the fascinating mundanities of the day-to-day lives of its characters; in a film that defies the need for catharsis, we almost don't need the conflict with the townspeople or even the climactic firestorm when the opportunity to watch Sánchez milk a cow or feebly play matchmaker is on offer! Still a quietly haunting and challenging experience, delightfully open to many interpretations.

Feels like Laxe wanted to film the forest fires which have plagued Galicia for years. Filmed them, then built a film around it. Story itself is somewhat open-ended following a man returning to his hometown on parole from having started a forest fire a few years prior. The film teeters between character study and commentary, doing neither particularly well. Nonprofessional actors do a great job of bringing Galicia to life. Marvelous cinematography of fires and the countryside. Lacks cohesion.

Less is often more, but it can also be too much of a good thing. Still kind of elegant.