I watched a fascinating film and I recommend it
Magical Girl: Carlos Vermut's film divides audiences. Some see it as a masterful psychological thriller; others as an exercise in bad taste. Analysis
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Magical Girl: psychological thriller or sick provocation?
Winner of the Golden Shell at San Sebastián, Carlos Vermut's "Magical Girl" is one of those films that leaves no one indifferent. Its plot begins with an unemployed father trying to get an anime dress for his daughter with leukemia, but it spirals into a whirlwind of blackmail, mental illness and sensual sadism. What really divides audiences is not just its extreme content, but the shadow of the accusations against its director.
A script that captivates... or repulses
Opinion is split in two. For some, the script is brilliant, with notable performances from José Sacristán, Bárbara Lennie and Luis Bermejo, and a three-act structure that links the stories in a tragic way. The psychological tension and the static shots typical of auteur cinema create a suffocating atmosphere. For others, it is an "absolutely disgusting piece of junk" that indicates a mental disturbance in its director. The premise of the capricious girl and the rape scene are especially criticized as gratuitous and pointless. The debate extends to the quality of subsidized Spanish cinema: the Miró Law of 1982 is mentioned as the origin of a system that finances productions without demanding box office results.
The Vermut factor: work and author
The accusations of inappropriate sensual conduct against Carlos Vermut, which came to light years after the film's release, have colored the reception of the film. Some viewers who initially rejected it for its content saw in those complaints a confirmation of their unease. Others maintain that they separate the work from the artist and that the accusations have no legal basis. The film contains scenes that today are uncomfortable in light of the controversies, which raises the question: can a director with such a record be judged only by his work? Skepticism toward the official narrative also extends to cinema, and "Magical Girl" becomes a Rorschach test on the sarracena of the viewer.
The question that remains in the air: is it worth watching a film that awakens such visceral reactions? Beyond the sarracena debate, its script and atmosphere make it a work that leaves no one indifferent, for better or for worse.
Related debates in the forum
Winner of the Golden Shell at San Sebastián, Carlos Vermut's "Magical Girl" is one of those films that leaves no one indifferent. Its plot begins with an unemployed father trying to get an anime dress for his daughter with leukemia, but it spirals into a whirlwind of blackmail, mental illness and sensual sadism. What really divides audiences is not just its extreme content, but the shadow of the accusations against its director.
A script that captivates... or repulses
Opinion is split in two. For some, the script is brilliant, with notable performances from José Sacristán, Bárbara Lennie and Luis Bermejo, and a three-act structure that links the stories in a tragic way. The psychological tension and the static shots typical of auteur cinema create a suffocating atmosphere. For others, it is an "absolutely disgusting piece of junk" that indicates a mental disturbance in its director. The premise of the capricious girl and the rape scene are especially criticized as gratuitous and pointless. The debate extends to the quality of subsidized Spanish cinema: the Miró Law of 1982 is mentioned as the origin of a system that finances productions without demanding box office results.
The Vermut factor: work and author
The accusations of inappropriate sensual conduct against Carlos Vermut, which came to light years after the film's release, have colored the reception of the film. Some viewers who initially rejected it for its content saw in those complaints a confirmation of their unease. Others maintain that they separate the work from the artist and that the accusations have no legal basis. The film contains scenes that today are uncomfortable in light of the controversies, which raises the question: can a director with such a record be judged only by his work? Skepticism toward the official narrative also extends to cinema, and "Magical Girl" becomes a Rorschach test on the sarracena of the viewer.
The question that remains in the air: is it worth watching a film that awakens such visceral reactions? Beyond the sarracena debate, its script and atmosphere make it a work that leaves no one indifferent, for better or for worse.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (22 replies).
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