The Spanish thriller “Nowhere” took first place in Netflix’s top films but it still divides subscribers.
Suburbs 2 will not have held its first place in Netflix’s top films for long. It is dethroned by the latest Spanish production to be broadcast on Netflix, Nowhere. A survivalist thriller in the purest tradition of the genre.
And to say it chronicles a catastrophic disaster would be an understatement. The disaster in question takes place on the open sea and as such guarantees its share of thrills. It is not certain, however, that this production will be remembered for long.
For 90% of the feature film, the story follows protagonist Mía (Anna Castillo), a pregnant Spaniard who flees the violence of her country with her husband Nico (Tamar Novas). A radio program suggests they are fleeing a Spain torn apart by a lack of resources due to climate change and a totalitarian policy that targets pregnant women and children.
Thus, the beginning of the film is rather interesting by taking the opposite approach to Alfonso Cuarón’s feature film, The Sons of Man, with a tracking shot which reviews people huddled against gates and soldiers who rough them up, or even murder them in the street.
But the film is not interested in exploring this dystopia and is content with fairly generic survivalist sensationalism.
Mía and Nico begin their journey together with dozens of other migrants aboard a container, but the smugglers force them – violently – to separate. Nico finds himself in another container. Difficulties intensify for Mía when the police – similar to a militia that acts with impunity – stop the convoy and find the illegal travelers.
But Mía hides among the cargo while the police murder the people around her, mainly women and children. Its container is then cleaned with a water jet and loaded onto a ship.
Mía is now alone, pregnant to the eyeballs. His solitude becomes absolute when a storm causes his container to fall into the ocean. Bullet holes and questionable physics prevent the container from completely filling with water and sinking. Mía is left adrift on the open sea, responsible for her survival and that of her soon-to-be-born child.
What follows is only bad luck and disaster, a little luck and a lot of bad luck. But this Alone in the World Who Does Not Say His Name is having fun with some clever little MacGyver-style innovations.
Mía, who was a teacher in her previous life, manages to build flotation devices from Tupperware boxes and create an opening at the top of the container using an electric drill that by (fortunate) coincidence placed in an abandoned bag.
We won’t tell you any more and we’ll let you discover the conclusion of the film for yourself if you haven’t seen it yet.
EMILIO PEREDA/NETFLIX © 2022
Mixed subscribers
Despite this economy of means and scenario, this film by Albert Pintó – released on September 29 – easily rose to second position in the Netflix top. On AlloCiné, Nowhere obtains an average of 2.6 out of 5 for 144 ratings at the time of writing.
Here is a small anthology of contrasting opinions:
“A thriller as we like them. The heroine is pregnant and drifting in a container on the open sea. She must survive. For her. For her baby. For the father of her child. It’s a closed door for survivors. The film is rhythmic, we never get bored for a second.
The heroine is endearing, full of love and rage for life. The only downside is that this young mother is a little too super-woman to still be credible. But that doesn’t take away from the beauty of the film. To see without hesitation!“(Melanie)
“This film literally had me glued from start to finish. You’ll quickly get caught up in this incredible story that reminds you how insignificant your problems are compared to those others may experience. Anna Castillo is truly incredible in this role. On the other hand, I strongly advise against it for claustrophobics…” (Greedy D)
“I loved it, the film keeps us in suspense, it stressed me out throughout. A great discovery of this actress who plays her role wonderfully. Original story“(elodie)
“Excellent film! Full of emotions on a very interesting subject. I hope there will be a sequel!!!” (Sky Sword)
“1h50 for not much, film too long for the emptiness it tells. A tasteless achievement. Everything is too big, we already know the flow of the film before we’re even halfway through. A convincing lead actress but that’s not enough.“(Shiki)
“A film about hope, about a couple on the run for a better country. A young pregnant woman finds herself alone in a container, she will soon give birth and must come out alive to tell her story.
Nothing is plausible, but behind the inventory of the Curvair box series, there is a note of hope, and sometimes a little trashy. She’s a bit of a Mc Gyver as a woman, she has to make do with the contents of the crates, and learn to catch fish, well, nothing plausible, but hey, it’s a tale for better times.” (Del arte)
“Totally improbable scenario. Of a person in difficulty, we laugh so much it’s unimaginable that it could be real.” (Ju B)