SEX AND LUCIA

It's always admirable when a film trusts its audience enough to take risks with narrative structure or avoid spoon-feeding plot points. It is a nice (and rare) experience, having your intelligence respected by filmmakers. 'Sex and Lucia' provides this type of experience for much of it's 2:08 running time, but ultimately ruins the spell by relying on pure and multiple coincidences to tie its plot together. As these coincidences slowly come to light, any audience member who has put effort into understanding the complexities of the story will no doubt feel hung out to dry.

The plot of the film is complex enough that an accurate summation is difficult after only one viewing. However, the core of the story is plainly laid out. In it, Lucia (the preposterously beautiful Paz Vega) falls for Lorenzo (Tristan Ulloa), a novelist. The two move in together after the briefest courtship in movie history, and a healthy dose of sex follows (more on this later). Just as the two are at the peak of bliss, an event from Lorenzo's past comes back to haunt him. As his past slowly collides with his present and his novel-in-progress collides with his reality, Lorenzo's life slips out of his control. Lucia is left to pick up the pieces of her own life while mourning the one she shared with Lorenzo.

'Sex and Lucia' is a story about loving someone despite themselves, about running away from the past, about people as complete beings instead of convenient one-note players. That the above plot synopsis barely begins to cover what happens in the movie is a testament to its fullness.

That said, the coincidences that tie the beautiful mess together are too much to bear. If I walk into a cafe an hour after writing it to find Paz Vega sitting in the corner reading this review, complete with my name (which came to her in a dream) tatooed across her chest, it will be less coincidental than certain elemental plot points in the film.

'Sex and Lucia' is shot beautifully, with the exception of certain exterior scenes looking terribly bleached out. The editing falters at times as well, cutting during a few tense sequences as if it were a second rate slasher flick. In addition, one major plot point is nearly missed simply due to it being hinted at but never filmed (a low budget is the only forseeable excuse).

Because it sometimes sacrifices complexity for heart, and because the story is ultimately built on quicksand, 'Sex and Lucia' is in no way a 'must see' film. It is, however, far better than average if for no other reason than because it trusts us to make sense of a twisting, turning plot while trying its damndest to be about so much more.

(Note: 'Sex and Lucia' was supposed to be part of a series focusing on explicit sex in cinema. Netflix took the film out of that category, however, by sending an unrated, toned-down version. While the sex is still present and somewhat graphic, jumpy edits make it apparent where certain material has been deemed too risque for my eyes to handle. This is most likely at no cost to the story, but being forced to watch a version other than the one the director wanted me to see is always disheartening).

MAYBE SO (7/10)