Un amor

Nat leaves the city and moves to a small village called La Escapa. She works as a translator, knows nobody, and the roof of the house she rents leaks. The landlord is not interested. A neighbour makes an offer: he will fix the roof for nothing if she sleeps with him. Nat accepts. The subject is not desire but what a bargain turns into afterwards. Once the relationship begins Nat's control over her own decision diminishes, and the village watches and excludes her. The film shows the woman as neither victim nor free, and leaves her somewhere between. The form is quiet and dry. Very little music, short exchanges, empty landscape. Summer heat and dust are the main texture. The source is Sara Mesa's novel of the same name. Isabel Coixet directs and co-wrote it. The film was nominated in several categories at the Spanish Goya awards. Laia Costa plays Nat and Hovik Keuchkerian the neighbour, with Hugo Silva and Luis Bermejo in the cast. Who it is for: viewers who like slow, uncomfortable relationship drama. Who it is not for: anyone who wants the character's decisions to make sense; the film refuses to explain them.