-Written by Ken Radner.
A group of people experience their lives in degrees of separation over the backdrop of a rainy day in Mexico City.
Lluvia is a beautiful film chronicling the lives of a disconnected group of people living out a rainy day and night, exploring a snapshot of their lives and how they are interconnected. A disparate group–a taxi driver, schoolteacher, gangster, nurse, crime victim, pool hall proprietor, troubled couple, prostitute, immigrant–show us how we all are more connected by circumstance than we may think, forming a tree of experience that branches out with each new connection we make. Indeed, connection seems to be an undercurrent of this film, with many of the characters searching for help, comfort, familiarity, nostalgia, or resolution.
It is expertly filmed, with a palpable atmosphere and a gripping aesthetic. The cinematography is captivating, using symmetrical scene framing at times reminiscent of Wes Anderson films, contrasting the surrealism of form with the realism of the content. The film almost functions as an anthology, however, with the common thread of life in this city, and ultimately, the rain. While the plot develops slowly, it retains a fascination which inspires a desire to discover the motivations and histories of the characters. The rain itself provides a distinct atmosphere, as well as punctuating the emotional beats of the film. It is ever present, pausing at times, only to return thematically much in the way a score accents the story. Mentioning the score, it is wonderful, delicate, and graceful. A perfect counterpart to the rain, engendering the emotional notes to accent each scene, handily performing its function within this piece.
The acting is of high caliber, and all the performers in Lluvia execute their skills professionally. This quality carries through all members of the cast, as the film achieves something rare, in that there are no weak performances, regardless of size of the role. The characters' stories are riveting. They are given to us at a slow burn, and the revelations produced are meaningful, with depth that adds dimension and in some cases, development.
That all being said, Lluvia doesn't specifically follow the typical plot progression seen in many films. However, I do think this is purposefully done. The standard resolution experienced in the traditional structure of the majority of film is somewhat lacking here. It is present, but to a lesser degree, and seemingly localized to a very limited number of characters (at this writing I can think of only one). So, if you are looking for your typical storytelling with a typical character’s journey, you're probably not going to find much of that here.
Simply put: Lluvia IS art. If you are willing to forego the expected formulaic film, this is a wonderful experience. I can't say enough about the use of the rain, almost to it being a character itself. Its presence, intensity, timing, and even its absence indicate an analog to a narrator. Your time would be well spent to experience this.
Directed by Rodrigo Garcia Saiz.
Written by Paula Markovitch.
Starring Bruno Bichir, Arcelia Ramirez, Axel Shuarma, Martha Claudia Moreno, Mauricio Issac, Mayuko Nihei, Esteban Caicedo, Morganna Love, Kristyan Ferrer, and Ceilia Suarez, etc.
8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
