Cell 211

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Richard Pena, Program Director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center, kicked off the Opening Night of the 18th edition of Spanish Cinema Now series at Walter Reade Theater by calling to the stage actors, directors and dignitaries who were in attendance for the New York premiere of Cell 211.

Ignasi Guardans Cambo, General Director of the Spanish Film Institute (ICAA) of the Ministry of Culture, compared the Spanish Cinema Now series to an introduction of "this years harvest." A fine analogy considering the honest effort, time, sacrifice, teamwork and small miracle in tilling a harvest .

The Director of Cell 211, Daniel Monzon, closed out the casual pre-screening ceremony by expressing his warm appreciation for the opportunity to screen in New York City, the setting of King Kong, the movie that inspired his career.

Cell 211 opens with a scene of of detailed action. Before any introduction to characters, we meet pain and suffering. A provocative first round.

Juan Oliver, played by Alberto Ammann, is starting a job as a prison guard. He decides to show initiative by going to the prison a day early for a lay of the land. He "kisses" his beautiful and preganant wife goodbye and heads to work.

Be careful of how you make a first impression and who you choose to make it on.

Juan's tour of the prison facility takes a turn for the worse and, as Monzon puts it, he is put through "the worst things a human can go through, in 30 hours."

The action and motivation in Cell 211 hangs on plot and role reversal. In the end the bad man is "more noble than then guardians of law" said the director. Monzon was asked during the post-screening Q&A if he hoped the movie would affect change in the Spanish prison system. "I should be so pretentious."

Portraying elements of the prison experience with truth and honesty was important to the filmmaker. Time was spent with infamous prisoners during the development process, filming took place in a functioning prison and extras were actual prisoners. "I don't know," said the director when asked on how he was given such access. "Seduction."

Alberto Amman, in his first film acting role, puts in a solid performance. Monzon spoke of a conversation that he had with the novice actor in which Ammann said he felt he was "cheating" alongside proved actors like Luis Tosar, who humanizes the portrayal of the violent Malamadre. Monzon directed Ammann to harness that feeling as it fed directly into his character's mode of survival.

The entire cast is up to task in Cell 211, including Carlos Bardem, Javier's brother, who plays a slippery jailhouse thug.

Check out Cell 211 showing today at Walter Reade as part of Film Society of Lincoln Center's Spanish Now series. Don't fret if you cant get tickets. IFC announced earlier in the day that it will distribute the film through Festival Direct VOD program and the Director "hopes for some theatrical relaease, too."

The movie is ripe for remake and Richard Pena said as much in his introduction of Cell 211. Don't expect a solid remake. Watch the original.

Below is a link to Cell 211's Spanish language website

http://www.celda211.com/

and a link to information on the Film Society of Lincoln Center's Spanish Cinema Now series

http://filmlinc.org/wrt/onsale/spanish09.html

RC

score 8/10

rareformedia 5 December 2009

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2168826/