The Beloved: Javier Bardem Shines as a Director on the Brink

A Masterclass in Psychological Storytelling

Spain's Rodrigo Sorogoyen has established himself as a formidable force in the realm of psychological thrillers. From the serial-killer narrative of May God Save Us (2016), to the political intrigue of The Realm (2018), and the true-crime exploration of The Beasts (2023), Sorogoyen has consistently delivered compelling, thought-provoking films. His latest offering, The Beloved, marks his first entry in the Competition at Cannes, and it is nothing short of an incredible achievement. This film builds upon all his previous works while transcending genre boundaries, delivering the same tense, gripping moments that have become his hallmark, but with a depth and complexity that elevate it beyond mere categorization.

Javier Bardem’s performance in The Beloved is a career-defining moment, showcasing the actor's ability to embody a character as nuanced and morally ambiguous as Esteban Martinez. In comparison to Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value, where the protagonist is portrayed as a more endearing figure, Esteban is a far more unsettling presence, driven by self-centeredness and a need for control that borders on the obsessive.

The Opening Scene: A Glimpse into the Complex World of Esteban

The first 20 minutes of The Beloved are a masterclass in storytelling. The scene opens with Esteban sitting in a fancy restaurant, ordering sparkling water with ice and lemon. This simple act reveals much about his character—Esteban is a recovering alcoholic, prone to self-destruction due to his volatile temperament and exacting nature as a film director. However, this is not immediately clear to the audience; instead, we are introduced to the woman he is dining with, someone he hasn't seen in 13 years and who clearly feels uneasy about their meeting.

This woman turns out to be Emilia Vera (Victoria Luengo), Esteban’s daughter, the product of an affair with one of his leading ladies. Emilia is a strikingly mysterious actress, whose appearance evokes the essence of an Almodóvar starlet. Her presence in the film is both intriguing and emotionally charged, setting the tone for the complex relationship that will unfold between father and daughter.

A Complicated Dynamic

As the film progresses, we see Esteban’s attempts to cast Emilia in his latest project, a period drama set in the western Sahara desert. The initial scenes are filled with tension, as Emilia struggles to find her footing in the production. Her first scene, a complicated tracking shot, is ruined when she mistimes her delivery, but Esteban surprisingly lets her off the hook, blaming a technical issue and allowing her to improvise. This moment highlights the dynamic between them, as the other actors question her about her famous father, while the press pries into Esteban’s motives for casting her.

Esteban’s motivations remain opaque, and the title of the film, The Beloved, adds another layer of mystery. Unlike Sorogoyen’s previous films, which often rely on moral ambiguity, The Beloved offers little in the way of closure. Instead, it invites the audience to ponder the deeper implications of Esteban’s actions, particularly his apparent desire to exert control over Emilia.

A Kubrickian Moment of Conflict

One of the most intense sequences in the film is a Kubrickian scene that showcases Esteban’s loss of control. This moment reveals frightening depths of anger, causing the female cinematographer to leave the set, resulting in a two-day delay in production. Despite this, it is Emilia who remains, leaving the audience to wonder why she chooses to stay.

The film also explores the paradox of filmmaking, where relationships are often sacrificed in the pursuit of artistic creation. Esteban seeks truth and authenticity in every scene, yet he constantly rewrites his past, pushing away his daughter when she challenges his version of their history. By the end of the film, it becomes clear that Esteban’s art is his true beloved, a theme underscored by Sorogoyen’s use of screen ratios and film stock, from classic black-and-white to shimmering color and grainy video-assist.

A Film That Challenges and Engages

Certainly one of the best films about filmmaking since François Truffaut's Day for Night, The Beloved is also one of the scariest since Peeping Tom. Esteban’s own words, quoting Liv Ullmann, serve as a chilling reminder of the power of the camera: "The closer the camera, the more the mask must slip." This line, spoken by Esteban to Emilia, carries a double meaning, highlighting the tension between art and reality.

Key Details About the Film

• Title: The Beloved
• Festival: Cannes (Competition)
• Director/screenwriter: Rodrigo Sorogoyen
• Cast: Javier Bardem, Victoria Luengo, Melina Matthews, Marina Fois, Malena Villa
• Sales: Goodfellas
• Running time: 2 hrs 15 mins

For more insights into the world of cinema, explore related articles on the intersection of art, culture, and storytelling.