This week's Hyde Park Pick

The Farewell Gaze

With only three features to his name (since his magnificent debut 50 years ago) you have to be patient with Spanish director Víctor Erice Aras. But every film, each made about a decade apart, has been a gift to cinema: The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), El Sur (1983), The Quince Tree Sun (1992).

At the age of 82, Erice has finally offered us another, Close Your Eyes, which is truly worthy of celebration, and in a sense that’s what the film is: a celebration of cinema, with a multitude of references and allusions to his own films, the history and power of cinema and the life he has dedicated to it. 

In a cleverly conceived opening (a nod to El Sur, which, despite remaining a masterpiece, was never completely filmed due to funding issues) the setup is fairly noirish in style, with the central mystery a search by a film director into the disappearance of his friend and actor. In another lovely twist, Ana Torrent, the child star of The Spirit of the Beehive here again plays yet another Ana, as the missing actor’s adult daughter.

However, whilst this setup drives the plot, which is engrossing in itself, the narrative also has enough time to breathe and evolve naturally, the characters, (even the smaller parts) allowed space and depth. It’s a rich, contemplative and generous film as you’d expect from Erice, one that ruminates on growing old, memory and forgetting, reflecting on past times and those we have connected with through our lives.

The film reminded me very much of the plot and feel of Paul Auster’s 2002 novel Book of Illusions. Without as much of the deep tragedy and sorrow of that story, Close Your Eyes is as moving, as it creates a melancholic but peaceful atmosphere of almost wry contemplation, of possible simpler ways of living, the transformative power of cinema and the loose ends of life and art, that might never be tied.

It’s a wonderful return to film and we’re eternally grateful for it. Please keep your eyes firmly open.

Close Your Eyes plays at HPPH daily from Friday 19th April. Showtimes and tickets are available here.