The Motive

Set in 2017 Sevilla, Andalucia . A man called Alvaro , Javier Gutierrez, newly separated to his wife, Maria Leon, is obsessed with the idea of writing High Literature . He is really disturbing due to his lack of artistic inspiration, opposite his spouse who won Andalucian Literature award. That's why he moves to another block where he spies to the unfortunate neighbours to encounter stories to write down. As he has relationship with a mature, fatty block caretaker, a wealthy old man with Francoist ideas, and two Mexican inmmigrants whom he hears through the bathroom window about an imminent dismissal. But then things go wrong and happenings out of control.

A provoking and brooding film with dramatic events, a little bit of hilarious touches and snappy sentences. The interesting premise results to be starred by a clumsy Notary clerk who being fired becomes a failed and with not inspiration writer, discovering along the way a motley group of characters and taking advantage of them by manipulating and deceiving one by one . Javier Gutierrez gives a nice acting as a mature man, a wannabe writer who doesn't find the necessary inspiration and that is the razon for exploring other lives by messing with the personal existences at the apartment building in which he lives by renting, once he left his prior home. Javier Gutierrez is finely supported by nice secondaries such as Antonio de La Torre as the literature teacher who harasses insistently Alvaro to learn to write, Maria Leon as his sucessful wife who is unfaithful with another lover, Adelfa Calvo as the sexually unsatisfied caretaker and the immigrant marriage performed by Tenoch Huerta and Adriana Paz.

It packs a colorful and appropriate cinematography by Pau Esteve, as well as enjoyable musical score, including songs sung by the popular singer Jose Luis Perales. The motion picture was original and competently directed by Manuel Martin Cuenca, though it turns out to be slow moving and a bit boring. Manuel Martin Cuenca has established himself as one of Spain's most artistically astute directors, his works consist in thoughtful stories, evolving in skillness and style. Martin Cuenca was born in 1965 Almeria, Andalucia, region where he usually shoots his films. He is a good writer and director, especially known for La mitad de Oscar 2010, La flaqueza del Bolchevique 2003, Malas Temporadas 2005, 4 puntos cardinales and for TV: El Tesoro and 14 Abril La Republica. Being his best one : Cannibal or Canibal 2013. Rating : 6.5/10. Worthwhile watching. The picture will appeal to Spanish cinema fans.