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'Lovers of the Arctic Circle'
By Desson Howe
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 7, 1999
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The Spanish filmmaker, Julio Medem, directs the "Lovers of the Arctic Circle."
(Fine Line)
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Director:
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Julio Medem
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Cast:
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Najwa Nimri;
Fele Martinez;
Nacho Novo;
Maru Valdivieso;
Kristel Diaz |
Running Time:
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1 hour, 52 minutes
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Contains sexual situations and nudity
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In this Spanish language film, 8-year-old Otto (Fele Martinez) meets classmate Ana (Najwa Nimri) when his parents are separating, and her father has just died in a car crash. Otto's father (Nancho Novo) falls in love with Ana's mother (Maru Valdivielso), and the two children – who must now call each other siblings – also fall in love with each other. In this movie about coincidence, destiny and synchronicity, this is just the beginning of a long, fabled relationship which culminates in a series of revelations about the Arctic Circle. The story and images work well together for about half the movie. Unfortunately, Julio Medem's film gets so convoluted and even silly, only the staunchest of European aficionados are likely to stay with it. Medem, the Spanish filmmaker who made "Cows" and "The Red Squirrel," as always, creates exquisite visual compositions. I almost got by on its cinematic richness.
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