MSFF MOVIE REVIEW: LIVING IS EASY WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED (VIVIR ES FACIL CON LOS OJOS GERRADOS)


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LIVING IS EASY WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED is a line taken from the John Lennon song STRAWBERRY FIELDS. The film tells the real story of an English teacher Antonio who travels across SPAIN in order to meet his idol John Lennon.

On his way he picks up two young hitchhikers, both escaping a pre-ordained fate. Our trio spends time bonding, talking and even falling in love, little by little figuring out what their next step towards the future shall be.

Road trip movies are a genre of its own and the characters will either make them work or flop. LIVING spends a great deal of time introducing you to the leads (maybe a little longer than necessary), but as the trip begins everything comes together: the dialogue is sharp, the chemistry is perfect and the sunburned Spanish landscapes are breathtaking.

The writers make you genuinely care about our heroes' fate. Also, being limited by the genre, one will find it hard to imagine anything bad happening to any of them.

LIVING would be a perfect film if not for it’s predictability: half way through you can easily guess how each character’s story ark would pan out.


One cannot live in fear of the future - it is the long standing message of the film, and the ending will convey another: a chance encounter with a decent man could be just enough to put you back on your feet.

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