Review: There Be Dragons

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There Be DragonsIn recent years, the Spanish Civil War has featured in a number of great movies, Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth and The Devil's Backbone among others. To an American audience with little or no education on the subject, it can be difficult to follow or understand when the armies aren't wearing blue or gray. A few minutes reading the Wikipedia entry can be most helpful in at least providing a frame of reference.

There Be Dragons, written and directed by Oscar-nominated director Roland Joffé (The Killing Fields, The Mission) follows two childhood friends in separate stories through the events of the war. Based on the true story of St. Josemaría Escrivá, There Be Dragons presents the founding and philosophy of Opus Dei, the organization he founded within the Catholic church (and which was depicted negatively in The Da Vinci Code).

Dougray Scott as Robert is researching Father Josemaría Escrivá (Charlie Cox) and learns that his estranged father Manolo (Wes Bentley) was not only from the same town, but had also briefly attended divinity school with the saint. After eight years of silence, Robert returns home to Spain to hear his father's story, including several unpleasant surprises (the figurative dragons from the title).

There Be Dragons begins with the unattributed quote "Every saint has a past, and every sinner a future," which neatly describes the plot and dichotomy between Manolo and Josemariá. In one of the ugliest periods of world history, I found the story of Josemaría more captivating (and the film dedicates more time to this story and the philosophy of Opus Dei) while the military path followed by Manolo was darker, more violent and disturbing. In the end, the stories reunite in a way that is almost touching enough to bring a tear to one's eye.

Unfortunately, just before the credits roll, Joffé chose to try to drive the point home with a written message so corny it utterly destroyed the mood. It literally ended with the the phrase "in a place where..." and the title of the film, leaving me choked between howling laughter and snorting derision. While everything else about the movie is solid, this ending may mark the comeback failure of a director who began his career with The Killing Fields and then went on to make Super Mario Bros. and the ill-fated 1995 version of The Scarlet Letter.

Apart from the corny closing note, there are few sour notes in this enthralling movie, which includes several powerful gut-punches. It is of course, a Spanish Civil War film written and directed by an Englishman and starring British and American actors with no Spaniards in any of the leading roles. Dougray Scott's attempt at a Spanish accent is only slightly better than Costner's attempt at British in Robin Hood, and the old-age makeup on Wes Bentley won't win any awards.

Cox was, however, an enlightened choice for the role of Josemaría, and this was one of his better performances. The female cast in supporting roles is given little to do, but Olga Kurylenko was stellar in a tragic role central to  Manolo's storyline (I dare say no more at the risk of spoilers ... there be dragons). The ethereal Lily Cole (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus) is also mentionable for her brief cameo.

There Be Dragons is currently playing at Arbor and Tinseltown North.