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Greetings from the dark again
Chronology
Alexandra LeavingWritten by Leonard Cohen Performed by Javier Mas and Sofia Cordova. Alexandra LeavingWritten by Leonard Cohen Performed by Javier Mas and Sofia Cordova. Any discussion or article about relationships these days inevitably mentions the 'red flags' …
warning signs in a potential partner that you shouldn’t ignore
Thanks to writer-director Fernando Trueba (BELLE EPOQUE 1992, CHICO & RITA 2009) and co-writer Ryland Grant, there’s now a film that offers clear examples of red flags for those who can’t spot them without help.Alexa (Aida Folch) is a lovely young woman, who can’t swim and doesn’t speak Greek. So of course she applies for a job at a restaurant on a Greek island. It’s a newly opened boutique owned by Max (Matt Dillon).
Alex is attracted to the mysterious Max
While she is a carefree open book, he is a taciturn private. Local charmer and part of the staff, Chico (Juan Pablo Urrego), tells Alex, “No one knows Max.” Unfortunately, this does not deter Alex and she continues to pursue her man. One thing esteemed director Trueba does understand is the look of the film.
It’s really the material that lets us down here
Set on a Greek island in 2001, it’s breathtaking, and Sergio Ivan Castano’s cinematography makes full use of the seaside setting, the cute cafe and the adoring faces of the camera. Aida Folch has an initially likable character that reminds me a bit of Valerie Capriski from BREATHLESS (1983), and Matt Dillon has been a staple in the cinema for over forty years. The romance is never as romantic as we hope it is, and the suspenseful aspects never create the tension we would like.
Mostly, we just keep asking, “What’s Alex doing?
Why isn’t she rushing?” The aforementioned red flags are so obvious that the big reveal barely does justice to the title, and the finale is forced to go a little overboard due to Alex’s unlikely actions. Despite this, the Greek Islands Are Alluring In theaters and on demand starting September 27, 2024.
