Just watched "End of the Century"...

...a lovely Spanish language film from 2019, written and directed by Lucio Castro.

The synopsis seems simple enough: two men cross paths in Barcelona and have an affair. But the narrative is not at all simple. This hypnotizing film does what film does best...create a mood with visuals. In fact, the first 10 minutes or so have not a word of dialogue, which sets the tone and pace very well. Once our main characters cross paths, we are in a rhythm that only intensifies through the rest of the film. We end up in a place where dreams and memory blur with reality in a subtle but powerful way. The blurb on the poster says it is a "sexy and haunted" film. If you wonder how a film can be both sexy and haunting, take a look. With that in mind, this film reminds me of last year's emotionally devastating "All Of Us Strangers" which I reviewed here. Two characters in intimate isolation navigating a sort of slow dream world.

The photography beautifully supports this sense, where, even in a large bustling city like Barcelona, we are shown only small sections isolated from a greater perspective. The isolation becomes supremely intimate when our characters explore who they are, were, and might be to each other, and the chemistry between stars Ramón Pujol and Juan Barberini is palpable.

Recommend? Yes, it ticked all the boxes for me, maybe it will for you too.