Lamento Film Review

Star rating: 5/5

Writer: Ruben Sanchez

Director: Ruben Sanchez

Starring: Sara Jimenez

Lamento is a tense, hard-hitting Spanish/ Catalan short film about the risks women face simply by existing in public spaces.

Written and directed by Ruben Sanchez, this film is a masterful portrayal of the extreme stress women are put under in public spaces, especially spaces made for enjoyment. We meet Ana at a party in a hugely atmospheric truck depot in Barcelona, where it is common to party outdoors with music blasting from cars, car boots serving as bar spaces. We meet her dancing until of the guys approaches her and starts intensely violating her personal space. He spills drink on her, quickly blurting out the mediocre, useless excuse of being drunk. Ana decides it is time to go home, and as she does, her night unravels. The relentless tension and suspenseful pace of the film keeps the viewers attention to a deep level, a testament of quality.

Lamento is really a work of brilliance, not just narratively but also technically. Although the dialogue is strong, the spectacular and evocative party setting of a sprawling truck depot and the soundtrack- a single song by Barcelona singer and producer Bad Gyal- tell a lot of the story by themselves. The cinematography is evocative, while the tracking shots and the extreme wide shot at the end are inspired. Meanwhile, Sara Jimenez’s portrayal of Ana is absolutely flawless, not least her voice work. She navigates danger being at once extremely strong and extremely vulnerable- which could be a fair description of femininity itself.

Lamento is a superior work of cinema and social commentary. We are still having to shout that women’s experiences are not imagined, or exaggerated, and our bodies are not public property, not made for others. This work showcases the destructive power of the patriarchy in all its choking strength. Anyone who cares about anyone should watch this film.