Entre noche y día: A dusty, stage-bound relic

Is it worth your time?

Look, if you’re into the kind of classic cinema that feels like a filmed play, you might find a groove here. It’s definitely for the folks who get a kick out of old-school dialogue and dramatic stares. If you need pacing, modern editing, or anything resembling a jump-scare, just steer clear. You’ll probably hate it. 😴

The whole thing has this weird, claustrophobic energy. It’s like the actors are constantly bumping into the furniture because they’re worried about stepping off the stage.

Alfonso Granada is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Sometimes he looks like he’s really feeling the weight of the story. Other times? He looks like he’s just waiting for the craft services table to open up.

Odd little things

• There’s a background character in the third act who keeps adjusting his tie. It’s so distracting I stopped paying attention to the main monologue.
• The lighting in the cafe scene is bizarre. It’s like they only had one lamp and they really, really loved it.
• The dialogue is so formal it sounds like they’re reading from a textbook.

Watching this reminded me a bit of the pacing in Le chiffonnier de Paris, though maybe with a bit less soul. It feels trapped in its own era.

There’s a moment where a character walks across a room and it just drags. It’s not a long room! But the camera doesn't cut. It just watches him walk. It’s almost funny if you stare at it long enough. 🚶‍♂️

I can't say I fell in love with it. It’s not a masterpiece. But it’s got a specific, grainy texture that stays with you after the screen goes black. It’s not trying to be anything other than exactly what it is, which I guess I respect. Even if I wouldn't watch it twice.

Don't expect fireworks. It’s a quiet one. Maybe too quiet. Sometimes the silence is so heavy I had to check if my speakers were still working. 🤷‍♂️