Open Your Eyes . Tucson Weekly . 06-14-99

Open Your Eyes

DIRECTED BY: Alejandro Amenábar

REVIEWED: 06-14-99

A sterilized-looking Madrid is the backdrop for this incredibly smart and challenging Spanish film investigating--you guessed it--virtual reality, body modification and immortality. As César (Eduardo Noriega) recounts stories of lovers, a disfiguring car crash and numerous plastic surgeries to a psychiatrist, his credibility is consistently undermined as reality is embedded in dreams which are in turn enveloped in nightmare. This engaging phenomenological tale is ostensibly guided by César, but he is plagued by a seemingly benevolent yet mysterious man who heads a cryogenics company. The protagonist dons a mask for much of the movie, raising issues of authenticity as well as self-image in contemporary Western culture. As the narrative layers are revealed and recovered, the characters are repeatedly duped; best of all, so are the viewers.

--Polly Higgins

Full Length Reviews
Open Your Eyes

Film Vault Suggested Links
Bicentennial Man
Sliding Doors
City of Angels

Rate this Film
If you don't want to vote on a film yet, and would like to know how others voted, leave the rating selection as "Vote Here" and then click the Cast Vote button.