La Voz reviews the film premieres of “20,000 Species of Bees”, “Hannah and the Monsters” and “Yes, I Want… or Not”

The critics of La Voz de Galicia analyze the films Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren “20,000 species of bees”, Lorena Ares “Hanna and the monsters” and Michael Jacobs “Yes, I want… or not”, which arrived in Galician cinemas commercials this Friday, April 21 . It is an intimate drama about childhood and sexual identity, a children’s animated film by a Galician director and a Hollywood romantic comedy with Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Diane Keaton and William H. Macy in the cast.

“20,000 species of bees”, neither Cocó nor Aitor, it’s Lucía

Author: Miguel Anxo Fernandez

Without having to match in style or theme, there is a fine line that connects 20,000 species of bees —film Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren from Álava— with Alcarràs —Barcelona’s Carla Simón — and five little wolves — Alauda Ruiz de Azúa from Biscay. Three award-winning films in just over a year. It is obvious that its authors and screenwriters are women, peripheral outside the geographical framework, as well as debutantes (to a large extent), and that they are committed to narrative film (they leave bubbles to wonderful people…) that penetrates into early societies and provides a fascinating (and lucid ) view of the environment and the outlines of the characters. In other words, creative energy for Spanish cinema.

on tape 20,000 species of bees we have an eight-year-old who says her name is Cocó, although in the register it is Aitor, but she dreams that once and for all he will allow her to be what she wants — and this is where the basis of the story lies — : Lucía. Because she feels like a woman, and at home no one wants to understand her, starting with her own family, with the exception of her mother, immersed in a complex emotional trance with many similarities.

It will be the mother who takes her three little ones to visit her family in rural Euscaldún, Alava, where the film offers appreciative anthropological notes related to beekeeping, bees, honey and wax, ingredients that will act at various moments of the plot as handles that Cocó- To keep Aitor-Lucía on the complex path he is on, that of reaffirming himself and discovering the world with all its contradictions. If it’s true that little Sofía Otero keeps the plot going (let’s give some credit to Urresola Solaguren), the three remaining actresses are no less: Patricia López Arnaiz, Ane Gabaraín and Itziar Lazkano, in registers that exude dramatic sincerity thanks to the script in a state of grace There are unforgettable sequences on tape , as well as a grateful attempt to leave the viewer room to draw their own conclusions. Good Spanish cinematography.

“20,000 SPECIES OF BEES”

Spain, 2023.

Director: Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren.

Performers: Sofía Otero, Patricia López Arnaiz, Ane Gabaraín, Itziar Lazkano, Martxelo Rubio, Sara Cózar.

Drama. 129 minutes.

“Hanna and the Monsters,” I sing to tolerance

Author: Sabela Pillado

Hanna and the monsters is the story of a girl fascinated by some creatures and, when she finds one of them in her room one night, she decides to follow him, in a Narnian leap towards the other world behind the closet door. A world, aptly named Monsterville, where monsters have found their refuge away from humans, and where Hanna will find friends galore, as well as a few villains to stir things up with -unsuccessful- various pursuits.

Behind this title we find Lorena Ares, an animation director from Vigo, whose debut film is preceded by previous experiences, among which the short film stands out (because it is the most famous and awarded) Dawn of the longest night, nominated in the last Goyas and awarded at the recent festival in Malaga. Ares captures this girl-and-her-monster action, with hints of Pixari WITH monsters (USA, 2001) and builds an endearing story about singing tolerance and respect, celebrating diversity, overcoming fears and defending what is different as original and valuable.

And all this in a film that is clearly and without prejudice oriented towards the youngest (preschool audience and older), which logically affects its overall structure and staging. Therefore, clear concepts prevail, presented in a simple way that little ones can grasp them, primary colors in all their combinations, a few dialogues for the main girl… All this blended into the world of imagination and hymns of innocence. , embodied in careful animation where the combination of 2D and 3D techniques is appreciated, which gives a result that gives more warmth than pure and simple 3D. For all that, as well as for the benevolent message, this film stands out among the offerings for children.

“HANNA AND THE MONSTERS”

Spain, 2023.

Address: Lorraine Ares.

Screenplay: Cristina Broquetas, Ángeles Hernández, David Matamoros, Raúl Portero and José Pérez Quintero.

Animation. 76 min.

“Yes, I want… or not”; It’s not Lubitsch, it’s Alfonso Paso

Eduardo Galan Blanco

The story begins with a man crying in the dark of a cinema; Played by William H. Macy. Across the hall, Diane Keaton is watching him. On his way out, he tries to comfort him; the two keep each other company, even going to a cheap motel room together, but chitchat takes the place of fluid intimacy. That same evening, in a parallel montage, another couple – Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon – share an expensive hotel bed; if the previous couple just met, they have already been in a relationship for four months, even though he wants to leave it. As if it were a film about intertwined stories, a third pair of young men in their thirties enter the fray, whose naivety stands out from the four seventy-year-olds — although the pious script tells us that the sixty-year-olds are old men; It’s about a couple who say goodbye with an argument, given his lack of commitment, who doesn’t see marriage clearly. Barely fifteen minutes of recording have passed.

Six characters — in search of the author, because their lack of motivation is obvious — gather in the case. It’s also a coincidence, considering how small New York and New Jersey are! The crossed couples are the parents of the young bride and groom, who meet on the night of the official presentation. The original surprise of unbelievers gives way to a medley that claims to have the Lubitschian touch, but is nothing more than Alfonso Paso’s vaudeville.

The film lacks soul, and the old glories are unmotivated. Screenwriter and playwright Michael Jacobs makes his directorial debut with an adaptation of his own play that indicts a clumsy background. Reluctance pervades everything and one wonders what led today’s harsh Hollywood to spend ten million dollars on such an outdated film without any enthusiasm. Young Emma Roberts – Julia’s niece, Eric’s daughter – already says: “Everything that is not yes is not.” Well that.

“MAYBE I”

United States, 2023.

Director: Michael Jacobs.

Cast: Richard Gere, Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, William H. Macy, Emma Roberts, Luke Bracey, Michael Kostroff.

Dramatic comedy. 95 minutes.