The early student days of artist Salvador Dali, filmmaker Luis Bunel and poet Federico Garcia Lorca may be one of the more esoteric movie ideas in recent memory but director Paul Morrison forges ahead bravely to bring this strange tale to the screen. Of course the film would probably have gone straight to DVD if not for the popularity of heartthrob actor Robert Pattinson (of "Twilight" fame) who plays Dali, silly moustache and all. The story follows the three future icons as they meet in college during revolutionary times in Spain and remain friends into their eventual careers as ground breaking artists with varying degrees of commitment to their youthful ideals. Along the way there are political upheavals, disastrous love affairs and much discussion about making subversive art, not to mention plenty of costume changes. An interesting menage a trois develops between Lorca (Javier Beltran), his devoted friend and frustrated paramour Margarita (Marina Gatell) and Dali. Bunel (Matthew McNulty) is granted less screen time as the turbulent, fascinating relationship between Lorca and Dali takes center stage.
Unlike the art created by these Spanish trailblazers, there's nothing particularly provocative about this movie aside from the fact of its existence in theaters. Performances are excellent with Beltran particularly effective as the ill fated Lorca. The screenplay by Philippa Goslet is muddled and uneven, veering from thoughtful to silly with the most interesting scenes take place at the beginning of the story.
Things to love about this movie: An exquisitely romantic swim between Lorca and Dali under a full moon; excerpts from Lorca's marvelous poetry
Things to hate about this movie: Typical 'rally the peasants' speeches in local bars
Pleasant surprises: Pattinson acquits himself rather well as Dali and should be commended for his courage in taking on a distinctly non-commercial film of this nature
Unpleasant surprises: Not much of Dali's art is shown and his eventual status as a wealth, successful sellout is given heavy handed treatment
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