WARNING: SPOILERS THROUGHOUT
Watched this one with the wife last night, a neat little philosophical tale of the human condition. A connect the dots aspect ties five stories surrounding a central character, Hector, as he searches for true happiness in different eras of human history. This recurring soul just can't seem to get it right, but keeps trying none the less.
The director uses visual and character cues to identify the key elements that connect the stories and Hector's search for happiness: beaches/water, shoes and the importance of finding a good pair, windmills/crosses, priests, home/getting home, slaves and flowers/scents. Some or all of these elements show up in each of the stories The director uses these elements to exemplify the repetitive nature of history, how man's search for true happiness is a continuing struggle regardless of our place in history.
While the film presents a rich tapestry on which it tells it's tale, the plot, even the basic premise, ends up lost within the richness. Why can't our hero find true happiness? It's hard to say and the film never gets around to it. But take heart, perhaps one of your future lives will find true happiness.
Watched this one with the wife last night, a neat little philosophical tale of the human condition. A connect the dots aspect ties five stories surrounding a central character, Hector, as he searches for true happiness in different eras of human history. This recurring soul just can't seem to get it right, but keeps trying none the less.
The director uses visual and character cues to identify the key elements that connect the stories and Hector's search for happiness: beaches/water, shoes and the importance of finding a good pair, windmills/crosses, priests, home/getting home, slaves and flowers/scents. Some or all of these elements show up in each of the stories The director uses these elements to exemplify the repetitive nature of history, how man's search for true happiness is a continuing struggle regardless of our place in history.
While the film presents a rich tapestry on which it tells it's tale, the plot, even the basic premise, ends up lost within the richness. Why can't our hero find true happiness? It's hard to say and the film never gets around to it. But take heart, perhaps one of your future lives will find true happiness.