The Sea Inside (2004)

This month’s cinematic journey will depart from the Iberian Peninsula with a tale based on the real life of the Galician fisherman Ramón Sampedro, a quadriplegic man who claimed his own right to die. His story is told in “The Sea Inside”; produced by three countries (Spain, France and Italy) and directed by Alejandro Amenábar (Abre los Ojos, 1999; The Others, 2001).

It should be made clear that the main theme of the movie should not be interpreted as an apology for euthanasia. It presents the portrait of a man who longs for death, meanwhile living what could be interpreted as a bearable life. But “The Sea Inside” simply tries to show a person’s life, Ramón Sampredo’s life and nothing else. According to Ramón: “Living is a right, not an obligation”. Nonetheless; we, as spectators, struggle to accept his decision: Ramón Sampredo’s decision.

I must confess that upon viewing this art flick, I did not initially feel very impressed.ema.ise twist ending, his formula has changed for this But the impact of this picture is felt mostly after one leaves the cinema. When pondering the meaning of a life, one must inevitably come to terms with how differently everyone’s own experience can be. This idea is what adds complexity to the film’s non-complex structure. The visuals are at times simple, at times stunning; the dialogues are wonderful, if a bit conventional. The complexity of the individual human experience is what makes this film worth while.

Unlike Amenábar’s former projects, which all included a surprise twist ending; this movie focuses on characters and the emotional ties that bind them. Ramón’s life cannot be presented without the portrait of his family and friends and this film succeeds precisely on the strength of its acting. Two performances according to this moviegoer shine brightly in this picture, Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls, 2000) as Ramón and Mabel Rivera as Ramón’s sister in law. Presented in Spanish with subtitles, “The Sea Inside” was chosen as Spain’s entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category for the Academy Awards this year and it is already a nominee in the Golden Globes Awards for the same prize: it should not be missed!