Julio Medem's previous outings include Vacas (Cows, 1992) and La ardilla roja (The Red Squirrel, 1993). His third feature Tierra (Earth) tells the story of Angel, a lonely thirtysomething soil fumigator with a split personality, and charts his uncertainty when he is confronted by two women, a band of gipsies who are working for him and the violent attentions of a jealous husband.
Medem is a meticulous framer of scenes, and though the pace is leisurely, subtle accumulation of dramatic detail and entirely convincing character portrayals mean that by the time the last reel rolls around, the tension is humming.
This is what gives Tierra its special cohesion: the fusion of a strictly personal and wide-ranging world view with tight control. It is this control and clarity which redeems Tierra from art-house pretentiousness; that and a superb technical team. Jonathan Holland
Prod Co: Sogetel, Lola Films in collaboration with Canal+ Espana and Sogepaq
Prod: Fernando Garcillan
Dir/Scr: Julio Medem
Art dir: Satur Idarreta
Ph: Javier Aguirresarobe
Ed: Ivan Aledo
SFX: Reyes Abades
Cast: Carmelo Gomez, Emma Suarez, Karra Elejalde, Silke, Nancho Novo
Running time: 125 mins
International sales: Sogepaq
Screenings: Friday 8 November, 13.00 and 18.00, Odeon West End 1
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