THE TREE OF BLOOD

Spain, 2018, 130 minutes, Colour.

Alvaro Cervantes, Ursula Corbero, Patricia Lopez Arnaiz, Joaquin Furriel, Lucia Delgado, Luka Peros, Najwa Nimri, Angela Molina.

Directed by Julio Medem.

Julio Medem is a significant Spanish writer-director (Red Squirrel, Sex and Lucia). This is a rather ambitious film and has a running time of over two hours, immersing the audience in a very complex story and exploration of the past.

There is a visual of the tree of blood with the two central characters, Marc and Rebeca, embracing it as the film opens. They are at her house of a deceased writer, who had married Marc’s mother. The two do have decided to tell their family story so that they can make a complete narrative, telling the truth, revealing secrets.

One of the complications is that at the end of the Civil War in Spain, a number of Spaniards were taken to Russia and the Soviet Union, some of them moving into crime, especially with the next generation, some of whom return to Spain. This is particularly the case with two brothers who become involved in each side of the family.

There are wedding sequences, the two storytellers meeting in the past, friends over a period, then becoming lovers, now deciding to share their stories.

Audiences will find a number of the characters from the past quite intriguing.

However, there are some secrets, some flaring up of angers, a movement towards full revelation and truth – some exorcising of the ghosts of the past, some hope for the future.

1. The title, the visuals of the tree, Marc and Rebeca embracing it? Symbol of the family tree and the telling of the story of the families?
2. The settings, the house in the mountains, interiors, a countryside? Family backgrounds, homes, beaches? Publishing houses? Restaurants? The musical score?
3. The opening, the decision to tell the truth, reveal the secrets, the family narrative? This continuing throughout the film, Rebeca typing, each talking? The range of flashbacks, within each family, and the surreal scenes where Marc and Rebeca were present to the past?
4. The background of the Civil War, the Spanish children sent to Russia, growing up there, some returning, criminal element, drug dealing, killings, taking over of homes? Infiltration? The patriarch, his returning to Spain, his wife, her mental condition, present, memories of playing the piano, her scene at the piano? His control over his sons? Present at the wedding is? The background of manipulation, killings, Olmo and Victor as assassins?
5. Rebeca’s story, her mother, popular singer, drugs, the one night stand, the difficult birth, operations for the daughter? Her growing up, her mother and her hearing voices? The encounter with Victor, stating he was a fan, coming to the home, looking after them both, caring for Rebeca as a daughter, her calling him dad, his care for Macarena, to the institution, bringing her home, the issue of the voices? The buildup to the wedding? Macarena’s parents and their presence? Subsequent life, Rebeca growing up, Victor devoted? Taking in all my, his presence, Rebeca’s obsession with him?
6. Marc’s story, his mother, the relationship with Dimitri, his being killed? Olmo as the chauffeur, driving her away, the encounter on the beach? The later revelation that he was Marc’s father? His mother, publisher? The encounter with Amaia, the relationship with Olmo, their wedding, married life, the wedding, his parents? Amaia and her research, learning more about the Spanish in Russia, the return, the crimes? Writing the novels, her husband’s reaction? Her working with Nuria, beginning the relationship, the eventual wedding, Olmo attending with the suit from his first wedding, Rebeca going?
7. Marc and Rebeca seeing each other when they were young, the weddings, getting to know each other, sharing, in love?
8. At Amaia’s house, the writing of their stories? The sexual relationship, two years? Rebeca’s devotion to Marc after the accident, at his bedside? The block, Marc and his resentment? Their both going home? Marc with his mother, Rebeca with her mother and Victor, with Olmo in the house? Her wanting to go away with Olmo?
9. The targeting of the cars, the crash, Nuria and her injuries, telling the truth, her dying? Anaia surviving? Marc, rescued, hospital, his injuries, needing transplant? The discussions with Rebeca, the blood type? His love for Rebeca? His decision, racing to the wall, his injuries, the gift to his son?
10. Macarena’s parents, in the car, hitting the cow, her mother’s death?
11. The revelations, the father, his shooting his wife, shooting himself?
12. The accidents, the aftermath, the revelation of the truth? Future?