The Sea Inside (Mar Adentro) (The Sea Within)

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The Sea Inside (Mar Adentro) (The Sea Within)

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The Sea Inside (Mar Adentro) (...

Alberto Jiménez, Belén Rueda, Celso Bugallo, Clara Segura, Francesc Garrido

Life story of Spaniard Ramón Sampedro, who fought a 30-year campaign to win the right to end his life with dignity. Film explores Ramón's relationships with two women: Julia, a lawyer who supports his...( read more  read more... ) cause, and Rosa, a local woman who wants to convince him that life is worth living. Through the gift of his love, these two women are inspired to accomplish things they never previously thought possible. Despite his wish to die, Ramón taught everyone he encountered the meaning, value and preciousness of life. Though he could not move himself, he had an uncanny ability to move others.

Id: 10894026

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The Sea Inside (Mar Adentro) (The Sea Within) Recent Reviews
  • ceWEBrity
    October 28, 2009
    ceWEBrity
    I expected so much more from Alejandro Amenabar. This is weepy, overscored, hand-wringing disability porn. As movies of this nature generally do, there's an appeal to basic human sentiment that should cling to you if you have any sort of heart, the likes of which are communicated...( read more) by performance and interpretation. The performances are great, which is why the movie isn't a total flop. Sadly, the rest of this movie adheres maddeningly to formula, right down to dialogue beats and musical cues. Its intelligent subject matter is handled in an easily digestible way, complete with (totally inappropriate) romantic subplots, ~clashes of interest~ to spell out the issue more carefully for viewers, and a complete and total sanitization of its main character. There's no doubt in my mind that Ramon Sampedro was a good and intelligent man, but the figure we see in this film is a saint and a martyr, not a person. The Sea Inside moves in constant service of both him and his political ideology, which makes this feel like much more of a message movie than it should be. Calling for radical change while depicting a saint-like figure in support of this change renders this nothing more than punditry; essentially, it's like the legal case that Sampedro's lawyer is trying to put together, a story designed to tug as many heartstrings as possible to get its way. The movie is free to choose a side, obviously, but everyone opposing its edict is painted as an asshole, an ignoramus, or usually both.

    There's no doubt in my mind that The Sea Inside will affect a lot of people, but you can basically see Amenabar pulling the strings. This is a compelling tale stirred into a flabby, cookie-cutter narrative, leaving no questions unanswered and no room for thought in its audience by closing.
  • her69eyes
    February 17, 2009
    her69eyes
    Javier Bardem, the incredibly charismatic Spanish actor ("No Country for Old Men", "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"), casts his handsome youth aside to play a bedridden old man in "The Sea Inside". When Ramon Sampedro (Javier Bardem) was 26, he jumped off of a high cliff into the sea. ...( read more)Unfortunately, he miscalculated the depth of the water tremendously and his head struck the sea floor. Much to his chagrin, a friend saved his life as he was drowning. Almost 30 years later, Sampedro is a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the neck down, and still has full use of his voice and mind. He has morale support from his family, and thanks to his intelligence he's crafted some useful inventions to aid him in getting things done himself in bed. Sampedro, however, doesn't feel that this is any way to live - this is the true story about a man who fought for most of his life for the right to die.

    Ramon stated that living in his state is living without dignity, as if the loss of movement is a cruel joke only meant to serve as contrast to the freedoms he once had. Sampedro isn't a terribly miserable film character, however, as he's more ashamed than depressed. This isn't a film about a man lying around and moping. In fact, he's strangely charming and rather full of life.

    There are women in Ramon's life - a local DJ who was inspired by Ramon's story, Rosa (Lola Dueñas, who has collaborated with Pedro Almodóvar on more than one occasion), and the new lawyer for his right to die case, Julia (Belen Rueda, "The Orphanage"). Both women love Pedro, with Rosa in particular being more open about it, but Pedro insists that the only way to prove that they really love him is to assist him with his death. He's battled the catholic church and Spanish courts for three decades, and is now going for a more practical approach to the euthanasia he has not been granted.

    "The Sea Inside" sounds like it could potentially be highly offensive to quadriplegics. There are many people in Ramon's case who continue to live happy and meaningful lives, and Pedro devoted his life to his idea that a paralyzed life is a life without dignity. But it's important to remember that this is a film about one man's journey, not the journey of a people. Director Alejandro Amenábar attempts to make this as clear as possible several times in the film to avoid such controversy.

    "The Sea Inside" deals with fascinating subject matter, however it's impact is lessened tremendously by the surrounding familiar melodrama. My eyes rolled as Pedro dreamt of flying to the sea. The relationship with his family never feels fully developed, and Julia's parallel story to Pedro's isn't very convincing. That being said, Bardem's performance is worth seeing, and it is certainly still a mildly entertaining film despite it's faults.
  • lyndsiekivell
    January 7, 2009
    lyndsiekivell
    The two words that come to mind - Beautiful, poignant. Javier Bardem gives an exquisite performance of a parapelegic who is as charming as he is sad. This film shows the strength of a person to fight for autonomy even when the body is unable to provide it. Furthermore it show...( read more)s that love, friendship, and family though complex and varied all become the reason that the struggle is as important as the outcome.
  • 76Majikat
    January 3, 2009
    76Majikat
    Some will find the topic in question a little depressing, even perhaps a little morbid, but it's dealt with very realistically and of course is a much debated issue.

    Really good acting throughout, particularly of course by Javier Bardem.
  • susanriley
    October 16, 2008
    susanriley
    This film was shot beautifully, and I had a greater appreciation for it when I learned it was based on a true story. Javier Bardem is great.
  • ccathrine
    December 18, 2009
    ccathrine
    This film is absolutely perfect. I had expected a far more 2D depiction, playing to stereotypes and human sentiment. Not-so. Instead, Alejandro Amenabar has created a 3D, hard-edged film. Ramon is not portrayed as an angelic human being, but instead as a real person, with the...( read more) frustrations, tantrums, and selfish responses common to us all. This is no touched-up fairytale based on a true story. The cast is superb, with Bardem doing a phenomenal job, alongside Rueda and Segura. However, I believe Bugallo desrves call-out credit also, delivering an utterly convincing performance in a difficult role as Ramon's brother. The cinematography, score and pacing - all amazing. The result is synergistic, and leaves you thinking, and shellshocked all the more for its realitsic protrayal.
  • 339z
    December 16, 2009
    339z
    well umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch......its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie....i think that mabel rivera, lola duenas, joan dalmau, clara segura, francseco garrido, javier bardem, celso bugallo, belen ...( read more)rueda, alberta jimenez play good roles/parts throughout this movie....i think that the director of this drama/kids/family movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie....i think that this is a really powerful drama movie 2 watch with a great cast throguhout this movie
  • ratschella
    November 15, 2009
    ratschella
    Wonderful performance by Javier Bardem.
  • mjbassuelo
    August 28, 2009
    mjbassuelo
    very sad and true story
  • frncsbrennan
    July 22, 2009
    frncsbrennan
    powerful film-a bit down side but true.
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