THE NEXT SKIN/ LA PROPERA PELL

Spain, 2016, 106 minutes, Colour.
Alex Monner, Emma Suarez, Sergi Lopez, Bruno Todeschini, Igor Szpakowski.
Directed by Isa Campo, Isaki Lacuesta.

This is a drama about identity, amnesia, discovery or rediscovery of identity. (This theme was done on quite a larger scale with The Return of Martin Guerre and its American version, Somersby.)

The initial action takes place in an institution for orphans, managed by a sympathetic Michel (Bruno Todesschini) who is immediately challenged by one of the charges, 17-year-old Leo (Alex Monner) who climbs onto the roof and threatens to jump, talked down eventually by Michel. The issue is that Leo has to return, after an absence of nine years, to a Pyrenees village which Michel has identified as his place of origin, rediscovering his mother, his father having died in a mountain accident and the little boy disappearing.

The major part of the film takes place back in the village, Leo discovering that he is Gabriel, meeting his mother, hearing the stories his father, watching videos of him playing with his father, connecting with his cousin Joan, but under suspicion from Joan’s father, Enric (Sergei Lopez) who does not believe him and warns him to get out.

Which means then that the audience sometimes believes Leo/Gabriel, sometimes disbelieves. There is a significant revelation at the end, especially concerning his mother and Enric, and what actually happened on the mountain top with the death of his father.

An interesting exploration of the effect of troubled years on the young man, his being invited back into his past, prospects for his future.

1. The title? The themes of identity and debt and identification?

2. The setting of the home for youth? The institution, interiors and exteriors? The journey through the countryside? The village and the Pyrenees, homes, streets, shops, the countryside? The mountains? The musical score?

3. Michel, his work at the institution, his past life is an orphan and his remaining to work? His dealing with the young people? The introduction to Leo, his going onto the roof, preparing to jump, the reaction of those on the ground? Michel talking, bringing him down?

4. Leo, his reaction to the news, Michel finding his mother and his home village? His being lost for nine years, from 9 to 18? From boyhood to almost adulthood? His stories about what happened to him, the various jobs, wandering, going to Russia? Criminal activities? True or not?

5. The story in the village, his mother, his father dying in an accident in the mountains, his brother-in-law searching for him for days? The disappearance of the boy, Gabriel?

6. Leo/Gabriel, age, character, appearance, manner, driving with Michel? Meeting his mother? His behaviour? Going to the house, recognising his room? His uncle, Enricc, meeting him, suspicious of attitude?

7. Gabriel settling in, his friendship with Joan, the same age, memories of the past? Joan and his work for his father, hunting, skinning the animals? His mother, running the restaurant? Gabriel and his friendship with Joan, take them into his confidence? Meeting the other young people in the town, the conversations, activities together?

8. Gabriel, with his mother, her relief, happy to have her son again? Looking at the videos? Gabriel and his love for his father, the ideal father?

9. Michel, his remaining in the village, trying to help Leo/Gabriel settling? His own story?

10. Enric, rough, memories of his brother? The search for his brother? His suspicions of Gabriel, accusing him of being a fraud, urging him to leave? The continued confrontations?

11. The gradual emerging truth about his father, a harsh father, his mother wanting to leave, her relationship with Enric, continuing to the present? The mother and her breaking down, the confession?

12. Gabriel and the interaction with Joan, with the girl, the sexual interaction with Joan?

13. Enric, taking Gabriel to the mountaintop, through the snow, the accusation? And the revelation that Gabriel had pushed his father over the cliff?

14. The effect on Gabriel, the audience believing him, doubting him, seeing him in his room, his things, the plan to leave with his mother?

15. The aspect of mystery and the investigation? The role of young people and their being lost for years? Family and longing? A satisfactory resolution?