Little Ashes
Little Ashes
R | 12 November 2009 (USA)
Little Ashes Trailers

About the young life and loves of artist Salvador Dalí, filmmaker Luis Buñuel and writer Federico García Lorca.

Reviews
Majorthebys Charming and brutal
Ogosmith Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
Walter Sloane Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.
zif ofoz Read the review by T Y ... here with the other reviews. I found that particular review helpful in appreciating this film. Yes, the story is entertaining, wonderfully photographed, and the characterizations may be a touch over the top. But there is no denying this film has 'original' stamped all over it. Director: Paul Morrison and Writer: Philippa Goslett achieve a smash-up job in creating a story/film that gets into the heart and soul of three historic Spanish artist that lived at a time of social, political, and artistic transition that turned into an era of pain and suffering.Here we see three young creative men - Luis Buñuel, Federico García Lorca, and Salvador Dalí growing into their own personalities and dealing with the political callings of that time in Spain. Dali seems never to grow up but instead became the 'character' he wanted to be and played it safe. As for Lorca and Bunuel their conscience and creative selves centered around the wind of political change and each paid the price for speaking out.This film isn't for all. It's an art movie and other artist will appreciate it's color and emotion.
T Y During my first viewing of this movie, I was rolling my eyes, but it was not easy to shake off afterwards. And in fairness, it may be because the feelings presented are so tender, and the hurts so raw that I was made uncomfortable. The movie is meritorious just for exposing a trio that I had no idea were influencing each other. (Dali, deLorca, Bunuel) This movie is almost to painful to watch as first Dali arrives at school, as a preening anxious fop and then as Delorca falls for Dali. You know it's going to end in pain and heartbreak. Even so, knowing as little about De Lorca that I do, I did not realize how much pain. If you know much about Dali's personal behavior, you already know he was a rather contemptible person. So when his despicable actions pile up in the story, it's being honest. The treachery of the insecure Bunuel is also not glossed over.The direction is often very good, assembling a narrative of major scenes connected by little throwaway snippets that don't always take you from point A to point B; that suggest a richness of life and experience. There is good acting to see too, Pattison while getting a few things wrong, still manages to feel like a Spaniard, and the Irish guy playing Luis Bunuel does some interesting stuff.I love any movie that suggests a rich, absurd vein runs throughout life. The movie manages to suggest beyond the gay love story, that Spain under Franco was a place where an urbane droll Spaniard could find a spot and ensconce himself; it may not be true but it's a nice place to occupy. I will have smart droll friends or I will have none.Some standout moments include the opening where a fey but nonetheless strikingly beautiful young Dali is driven to University, and any scene underscored by the Spanish guitar music written for the film. Magda is that rare female role in a gay film that isn't wallpaper. She's very charming.It reminds of Cabaret but the script is better. It makes me want to read about Garcia Lorca and go to Spain. Ultimately it has pants to say about art, but it says that very quickly. Try to sit through Modigliani, Klimt, Lust for Life, all of them equally trite on the subject, but with nothing else going on in those films.Some of the poor reception of this film, is assuredly owed to neurotic hetero male reviewers who piled on, for making them consider that the love lives of homosexuals are worthy of consideration. That's all machismo-baggage. The worst moments are an amateurish montage of Dali in Paris. And while Robert Pattinson does a good job with the Dali character (who really was this confused, unbalanced jackass), he never quite finds his center. (Dali never did either.)The movie is cast with pretty boys again, making the point that no one gay has ever been less than a male model (!?) I think what I really like about this movie is a touching, sensitive Spanish guitar score; that always strike the right tone (well, except for the cheery music under the end credits).
Dainius8888 Robert Pattinson never was an appealing actor for me, let alone a great one. So. I am addressing to the many people who instinctively dislike Mr. Pattinson, for his overrated popularity due to the ''Twilight'' saga. Now please give him a chance in this movie, because, in my opinion, his portrayal of the great Salvador Dali was actually quite decent. The Great Dali's mood swings by Pattinson were performed attractively. His shyness. His stubbornness. The insanity of his character. I definitely cannot complain about that.And the rest of the cast, especially Matthew McNulty, also gave a worthy performance. Now the story, I believe, was not as well, presented as I could have been. Salvador Dali's story should be worth a memorable movie, whereas this one was simply OK and not so distinguishably special. But. Then again, you must keep in mind that it always is extremely difficult to to express the genius of a Great artist in one movie. Also, this movie concentrates on one of Dali's main inspirations. A male lover, who had a major part in his life. And this is what was not so great. The relationship between Dali and his lover was presented here really plainly. Just a simple gay relationship. Well, OK... their relationship was quite struggling, but there are much better gay stories than this one. Anyone who has seen Ang Lee's ''Brokeback Mountain'' will not be impressed here. Another unsatisfying part of the movie for me was that everyone is speaking English with a Spanish accent. This gets really annoying after a while. It is as if they were either too lazy to make this movie in Spanish, because Salvador Dali WAS in fact Spanish and NOT English, or this is just what the American audience prefers these days. That EVERYTHING would be English. Other that these flaws I have nothing else to complain about. The atmosphere of the the movie is really dualistic. At the first half you are watching a comedy with some romance, and then it turns into a drama. And the background music goes really well with the atmosphere. You hear the violins, the guitar strings, that are a really good advantage to the Spanish mood. Anyone, to whom soundtracks are important in a movie should not be displeased.It is not a must-see movie, but doesn't hurt to watch. If you have time, It will be enjoyable, and will leaves you thinking about it for a while.
mrbrianocallaghan This film was shockingly bad. I actually thought it was a comedy. The costumes were like something from a school play . The era was totally wrong as regards set and costumes. This was supposed to be 1920's?? Hello! The 'acting' and i use that term loosely, was hilariously awful. Robert Pattison looked more like Dracula in a bad wig, than the avant garde artist Salvador Dali. His voice went from American Hollywood, to Irish, to really patronising Spanish. Pronouncing your TH..., does not a Spaniard make. His intimate scenes with Baltrain were heavy and awkward. He looked in pain, as i was too.The water scene was the most wooden, overblown, sentimental tacky scene I've witnessed for a long time. The only saving grace was the actor Javier Baltrain. He , at least had some morsel of talent. The actress Marina Gatell was bouncing around the screen from her first introduction. In one scene where she visits her aunt, she flounces off to the bathroom saying 'im gonna powder my nose' , hello did the script writers have any idea how it sounds?, or was she shooting up as well. !920"s ....erm? Gatell's mock rebellious acting , and inability to hit the marks was astounding. It looked like the director fell asleep. As for the cinematography, it was lack-lustre. To read the 'reviews' from well known publications was astounding!! "Mesmerising" said Attitude, another "Robert Pattison shines" , Get real. This Stinker was a total waste of time, and my evening would have been better served reading Lorca aloud. The fact that he was portrayed like this, is a travesty.