On the heels of making short films, writer-director Ruben Sainz adds time more than content to his 116 minute project, Magoada, or “hurt” in Spanish. Sainz focuses on the life of a lonely man well-played by Diego Álvarez, whose thin frame, bearded face, and dark eyes exude sadness. Nearly 10 minutes go by without dialogue, with another 10 passing before the story’s core conflict arises with the arrival of the lonely man’s teenage son, traveling from Spanish Basque country to his father’s shack in Brazil. More than story, the film often feels more like an arty slide show, reflecting the innate problem involved with showing the mundane—it often feels mundane. Fortunately, Sainz steps in as cinematographer, capturing truly beautiful imagery. Sainz follows the tradition of reducing dialogue and letting images speak—though often the visuals say little in story telling terms. Atmospheric and beautiful to look at, Magoada would fare better as a short film.
