Extasis

Mariano Barroso's 1996 Spanish film follows three young people living at the edge of society. Rober, Max and Ona plan a robbery, and the plan requires Rober to pose as the son of a well-known theatre director. The subject is the role sticking. The closer Rober comes to the family, the further he moves from his own life, and instead of sustaining the lie he begins wanting to stay inside it; the narrative turns from a crime film into a story about identity. Javier Bardem leads in one of his early roles, with Federico Luppi as the director. The spaces are narrow, the light low, and the narrative draws its tension from talk. Who it's for: those who like Spanish cinema of the nineties and thrillers about identity. Who it's not for: viewers expecting an action-driven heist; the robbery is largely a pretext.