Pensive, piquant, and provocative, Lucio Castro’s End of the Century is a vibrant drama that perfectly captures the shallow yet strangely intimate dynamic of modern romances. From his Airbnb balcony, Ocho (Juan Barberini) catches his eye on an attractive passerby, Javi (Ramon Pujol). The two feel an instant connection, and as they get to know each other, they realize they have met before. As the film explores their timeline, Ocho and Javi expose new facets of themselves and confront what they really want out of a human connection.
End of the Century is markedly realistic in the way the characters interact. The small talk, light jabs, and slight pauses in conversation that live on the brink of awkwardness are remarkably accurate in the interactions of new acquaintances. Barberini and Pujol are masters of subtlety, and both do a wonderful job of portraying the tempered chemistry between their characters, treading the gentle line between passion and nonchalance. Rather than displaying blazing passion from the get go, they put on a bravado of restraint that swells and wanes with desire. This dynamic provides an interesting and profound relationship that dissects how people become intimate with strangers.
Adding to the realistic acting style, the cinematography maintains a lifelike atmosphere. The rawness of the footage slides the viewer into the intimacy of Ocho’s daily life. The simplicity of the editing relaxes the mood of the film into a slow ebb of tranquility, almost to the point of stagnancy. The minimalist style places focus in the natural beauty of the setting. Expect to be enthralled by the gorgeous streets of Barcelona, from its peaceful beaches to the cozy street markets. On aesthetic alone, End of the Century has a lot to offer.
The primary romantic relationship in End of the Century is undoubtedly same sex. But the publicity management seems to market this element above all others, which can feel more like a warning instead of a tag. A lot of the advertising situates End of the Century among other LGBT films rather than broader world of film, keeping it in the bubble of a subgenre. While the gay marketing does help spread awareness, it does not necessarily normalize queer relationships. Films with heteronormative relationships do not have a tag attached to the title so why should films with gay and queer relationships? Though End of the Century is marketed as a gay film, the emphasis lies much more deeply in forming human connections and posing philosophical questions.
Castro dives deep into the philosophy that fuels and pervades our actions and thought processes. Notably, he anticipates the question of true freedom. Where is the line drawn between independence and codependence? How do we keep away from the monotony that inevitably dulls a long term relationship? How do we maintain commitment? A beautiful quote from a novel in the film likens commitment issues to the catharsis of reaching a destination. The author desires to be in a constant state of transit, which is where they believe true freedom lies. Reaching your goals can be burdensome in the eternal “What’s next?” question. After hitting your mark, the chapter closes, and the void that follows is consuming.
Though this is an excellent film, it is very sexually explicit and is definitely not suitable to any viewer under the age of 18. For adult audiences who feel queasy about erotic material, the sex scenes are not unnecessarily grotesque and somehow settle in the artistic gray area of actually supporting the plot without existing for the sake of shock value.
Albeit intentional, the pacing is slow and requires a lot of concentration to stay engaged with every plot point. The audience may have trouble piecing together the narrative as the timeline flips back and forth between the past and the present, as well as illusion and reality. Any viewer who needs closure at the resolution will likely not be pleased with the open-ended plot. But for those who enjoy the mind game, strap in for a beautiful, poignant story that leaves you with the thrilling yet depressing feeling of the end of a century.
5/5 STARS