Tierra

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Spanish Cinema
Review: Angel (Carmelo Gomez) is hired to fumigate a small town vin yard from a plague of wood lice. Upon arriving he encounters a dying man, which represents an underlying metaphysical theme of Earth. Shortly thereafter Angel is introduced to the various townspeople. Most notably are Angela, the neglected housewife, and Mari, a cliche lolita who describes herself as "an oversexed girl". Angel, in conflict with a split personality, becomes torn between his desire for Angela and lust for Mari.

Tierra, (Earth) directed by Spanish film maker Julio Medem, is arguably intrigueing. The first thirty minutes of Tierra are impressive and interesting. Even more interesting is the relationship between Angel and Angela and her father. Unfortunately the film drifts away from the unexpected and at times becomes tedious. The metaphysical theme fails to ever fully develop positively and neither do the characters, who too often seem detached from themselves or reality. Tierra is a good effort by Julio Medem and actor Carmelo Gomez but unfortunately falls short of being a great film. However it is both watchable and enjoyable and I would recomend viewing it at least once. In addtion to 'Tierra' I recomend seeing 'Abre Los Ojos'(Open Your Eyes) and 'Tesis'(Thesis).

Rating:
Summary: More than fumigation going on
Review: Fascinating tale that addresses metaphsical questions with human nature and all it's conflicts. The scenery is stark and at times otherworldly, quite possibly the intent of the director to illustrate the nature of conflicts between this world and the unknown. Beautiful story about a man who comes to eradicate a pesky little critter who is giving the vineyards wine a "earthy" taste. He hires some gipsy's to help him fumigate but in the process becomes involved with two women of distinct characteristics. The conflicts exist throughout the movie for the leadin male chacter, Angel, and he must choose his path and destiny while bearing in mind his original mission and purpose, to get rid of the insect that has infested the vineyards. Very good movie that is a bit out there at times but the questions raised by the director are legitimate and worth contemplating. The dialogue is fast at times and if you need to read the sub titles they disappear fast. Put on your thinking cap and try this good example of Spanish cinema.

Rating:
Summary: Good movie, terrible DVD
Review: For those that like Medem's work, Tierra is an interesting movie. It is not his greatest movie, but it is an interesting psichological and visual endeavour. His particular visual style (particularily noticeable in Ardilla Roja) begins to show in this movie.

Unfortunately, not because of the movie itself (which you might like or dislike depending on wheter you can get in touch with Medem's altered reality), but because of the DVD transfer, this is not a good DVD buy. The transfer is lousy, subtitles are burnt on the image. Being a letterbox transfer, it would make perfect sense to position subtitles on the black bars, and for those of us who can listen to movies in their original language, the option to turn it off. This type of lousy pack-n-go arthouse DVDs, be it from Spain, France or Italy is undeniably cheap and unacceptable.

Rating:
Summary: Spanish filmmaking at its best
Review: I saw this film while a student in Salamanca, Spain. It was a required film of our art classes. I found it to be original in both concept and technique. The camera work is very interesting, creating a place that is not quite real. The shots give the world an almost alien look. The acting is great as well. A very interesting example of Spanish cinema in the 1990s.

Rating:
Summary: There are Movies and then there is This
Review: I saw this movie in the SIFF a few years ago. And I have been priveleged enough to have seen two other movies by the same Director. (The two mentioned in the review by Amazon).

But this one really has the 'biggest' view of them all. I notice that mentioning movies for their cinematography has entered the 'general' dialogue. And nothing has beaten the views that this film offered me since. I will declare without hesitance that this is my favorite movie of all time.

The actors (Emma Suarez and Gomez) are usual Medem fixtures and play their roles very convincingly. There is a tragedy and mis-understandings. Lost Loves, longings and above all the lead character called Angel (who really is an angel in part) who somehow must bring all the disparate ends together to achieve some sort of calm.

The setting for the movie is a broad vista in the Spanish Countryside which is lovingly filmed (because of a much bigger budget available to Medem compared to his other projects).

Overall Unforgettable.

Rating:
Summary: Tierra-a metaphysical exploration in sepia
Review: I study Spanish by watching Spanish-language films. I bought this DVD after watching "Sexo y Lucia", also by Julio Medem, which I really enjoyed as well. I agree with one of the other reviewers that the plot suffers a little in this film, but nevertheless, it does not disappoint. I'd describe Medem as a cross between Roman Polansky and David Lynch. Medem knows how to film a sex scene. What Medem does visually with Emma Suarez and Silke in "Tierra" reminds me of what Polansky did with Nastasia Kinski in "Tess." You can't get enough of looking at these women--they are simply captivating.

Medem weaves a latent and pervasive natural terror to propel the film with a weirdly "earthy", mysterious, and disturbing subtext that brings to mind David Lynch's "Blue Velvet."

It's a surprising and captivating film devoid of the usual Hollywood cliches. The acting of all three main characters is suberb. The movie operates on several levels and is unified by a ubiquitous yellow lighting. It's a weird, sensual, and beautiful film to watch with interesting characters, excellent tension, and simply luscious sex scenes.

The only other criticism I have of the DVD is that the subtitles are small somewhat hard to read. With all the visuals that Medem offers the viewer, it's hard to get it all the first time through if you can't follow the Spanish. But since the film is such a pleasure to watch, you won't mind viewing the DVD several times.

Rating:
Summary: Stunning...
Review: I would have to say that Medem was really on a roll when he made this film and its follow-up, Lovers of the Arctic Circle. They are two of the greatest films of the nineties (and beyond!). I don't want to give anything away about the insane and inspired plot of this movie, but I would like to call attention to one thing: There is a shot in this movie that was blatantly stolen by the makers of that awful, over-rated sci-fi movie, The Matrix. It is one of the most famous shots in the Matrix and was featured prominently in the ad campaign. When you watch Tierra (which you MUST!), you'll see what I mean.

Rating:
Summary: Great example of an original director
Review: Juilo Medem is one of Spain's (and the world's) most original directors. From Vacas, his first film, through La Ardilla Roja (2nd), Tierra, and his most recent, Lovers of the Arctic Circle, he has exhibited some of the most interesting images and subjects to be viewed in film today. The only other director in recent years to compare him with is the late Krzysztof Kieslowski. Tierra is a tone poem touching love, life, death, and choices. A remarkable effort with convincing portrayals by Suarez, Gomez, and Silke. The DVD is strongly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: No split personality, just real life - A good movie
Review: Medem masters again in his abilities to dig into the realm of the human nature, and reveals life, dilemas and the exercise of serious choices yet to be made.
Although the landscape, supporting characters and the script may seem a little too rough, the story covers everyday situations so common where the "macho" culture prevails.
When a lonely man (Angelo) is confronted with two choices he may have to make, his conscience takes the form of an "angel", just to reveal how one's mind works. And his final choice, non-orthodox, reminds us that logics may not be an exact science, just as mankind cannot be completely predictable.
Silke and Suarez are simply beautiful, but even more when playing their real life roles.
A hard movie, yet so close to life as it is, everyday!

Rating:
Summary: Not good
Review: Tierra is a movie that is so fake it hurts. It's similar to "Red Squirrel". Same people and the same theme of mental illness of some sort. In Tierra he has a split personality and he hooks up with a nyphomanic. The personalities, situations and coversations wouldn't happen in real life. I.E. he puts a dead sheep on a random families dinner table, on all fours, (electrocuted, petrified) while they are eating and this family looks at with curiousity and act like it is no big deal. Dumb. And they hang out in a bar that looks like it's in the ground. Dumb.