OFFERING TO THE STORM/ OFRENDO A LA TORMENTA
Spain, 2020, 139 minutes, Colour
Marta Etura, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Nene, Francesc Orella, Imanol,Arias, Itziar Aizpuru, Benn Northover, Marta Larralde
Directed by Fernando Gonzalez Molina..
This is the third film in a trilogy, based on novels by Dolores Redondo, and all directed by Fernando Gonzalez Molina. A recommendation to see the first two films before seeing this one: Invisible Guardian and Legacy of the Bones.
There were filmed in northern Spain, the setting for a range of superstitions even in the context of Catholicism, especially concerning evil Demons, sects in the countryside devoted to the Demons, human sacrifice, especially of children.
The film’s focus is on an expert detective, Amaia Salazar (Marta Etura) who has been rejected by her mother and brought up by her loving aunt. She trained in the United States with the FBI and has returned and is the homicide chief in her town, also in a relationship and having a young child.
In this episode, the focus is on the sacrifice of babies, unearthing secrets in the town, mothers who have sacrificed, their being urged to take their own lives, a sinister midwife, a seemingly abandoned mansion in the countryside, cemeteries, mausoleums.
The local judge (Leonardo Sbaraglia) supervises Amaia’s work but is infatuated with her and, surprisingly for many audiences, she allows herself to be seduced by him.
The Catholic element is introduced by the Opus Dei priest who appeared in the previous film and who in this case explains the superstitions background to Amaia and helps her to get final information for her case. And then her mother reappears, not dead as was suggested in the previous film, the mother and daughter having a confrontation on the bridge and the mother slitting her throat.
Amaia is very emotional in this film, many weeping scenes, especially with the murder of her loyal Lieutenant, Jonan (Nene). The ultimate solution is one of betrayal leaving Amaia somewhat bewildered, emotionally drained, looking out the window at the audience at the end.
1. The third in the trilogy? Continuity? Climax to the investigations and family secrets?
2. The setting, the Spanish town, the vistas, the streets and homes, the river and bridge? Police precincts? Hospital? The surrounding countryside, the mountains, the winding roads, mansions and hearts? The musical score?
3. The focus on Amaia, her position as homicide chief? Her collaboration with other members of the force, their respect for her? Her delegating jobs? Her reliance on Jonan? His concern for her, the photos? His access to her files? Amaia and her relationship with James, love for their child? Her continued absences, going off on work? The emotional impact, her grief sequences and tears?
4. The background of the trilogy, Spain, superstitions in the countryside, the gods and monsters of the earlier films, the monster of this film? The sacrificing of children? And financial reward? The impact on Amaia because of her child?
5. Sarasola, his two sequences, his presence in the previous film, Opus Dei, chaplaincy, hospital work? The two sequences of his explanation of the superstitions to Amaia?
6. Amaia and her mother, the previous film and the mother’s disappearance, presumed dead, the other daughters preparing the funeral? The young doctor and his death? The number of deaths and injuries? The old woman, Amaia’s interview, the story of children and death, the walnuts and her gruesome death? Yolanda, her concern about her child, getting Amaia’s help, wanting the graves open to find her babies, getting the explosives, her injuries, the second attempt, the attack on Amaia? Her death?
7. The place of the judge in the town, his attraction towards Amaia, their professional work together, her wanting his permissions? His approaches, love for Amaia, the seduction, Amaia willing, the credibility of her sexual encounters with the judge, and yet her love for her husband and child?
8. The midwife, the visit to her, the interview, a sinister presence? The mansion in the countryside, the owners and their reaction to Amaia? The midwife visiting? The next door neighbour, her noticing everything, having the photo albums, giving the information to Amaia?
9. The death of Jonan, Amaia and her grief, his mother, his partner? The photo cache, of the judge?
10. James, his father’s illness, going home to see him, Amaia unable to go, the nights with the judge? The phone calls?
11. Amaia’s aunt, her stories, love for Amaia, the tarot cards?
12. Her mother’s reappearance, the confrontation on the bridge, slitting her throat? The doctor advising Amaia to see her mother just as a dead of woman and not see has a as a haunting ghost?
13. The explosion, the basement? The police investigation? The tomb, the judge reappearing, Amaia confronting him with the information about his father, the old man hidden away, Father Sarasola and leaving Amaia to him, the story about the various sects, their worship, human sacrifice, wealth?
14. The final confrontation between Amaia and the judge, his urging her not to enter the mausoleum, the finding of the babies, the guns, his death? The fact that the judge had shot Jonan?
15. Amaia, talking to her sister, the story about her husband and the mystery of the first film in the trilogy, their mother, her sister’s illegitimate child, the reunion, the mysteries of deaths?
16. What was the audience left with after this three-part venture into this strange Spanish world? And sharing the experience with Amaia?
