Earth / Tierra (1996 Medem), film (es) ESP

The story centres on a small rural town whose wine industry is being plagued by grubs in the soil. Ángel (played by Gómez), an exterminator recently released from mental hospital, arrives to deal with the pests and becomes involved with two of the local women.

Julio Medem was one of the most exciting new voices in 1990s Spanish cinema. After the historical drama Vacas (1992) and noirish thriller The Red Squirrel (1993), the filmmaker came up with a metaphysical rural thriller about a stranger who enters the lives of a farmer, his wife and his mistress, soon causing distress to all. The film’s visuals and hothouse atmosphere more than make up for any narrative shortcomings, while the cast simmer upon the baked-earth landscape. It’s a heady concoction that doesn’t make complete sense, but offers an entertaining journey through a maelstrom of surging emotions.

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