Saturday Special: The Bastard’s Fig Tree [Film]

“Near the end of the Spanish War, a “trigger happy” fascist soldier turns into a hermit and gets caught up in the care of a fig tree after the look in a ten year old child’s eyes, son of one of his victims, awakes in him the certainty that the kid will kill him as soon as he reaches sixteen years of age.” – October Coast PR

******

Wow, what a hell of a film we have here. I can’t lie, I was told this was a “whimsical comedy”, and I can sort of see it, in some ways. But, in other ways NOT AT ALL. What sort of crazy sense of humor do the Spanish have that I was not previously made aware of? I do agree that it is a fresh & magical exploration of the horrors of the Spanish Civil War as I was told. But I probably wouldn’t jump right out the proverbial gate and say this film is “whimsical” in any way. But nevertheless, it is an absolutely brilliant film! Such a brilliant premise that leaves just enough mystery to help you build your own assumptions at some points, but also leaves you with the ability to check your own ideologies at the figurative door and just enjoy some fantastic cinema!

Again, I’m not saying that there isn’t a bit of fun to be had in this film. But, for the most part, I found the subject matter to be delightfully dark. And not in a dark comedy kind of way, just plain ass dark! Writer/Director Ana Murugarren has completed something absolutely wonderful with The Bastards’ Fig Tree, no matter what genre you decide to through it in. And the film’s two leads happen to be absolutely incredible. Karra Elejalde is wonderful as the delightful stubborn hermit, and Pepa Aniorte is simply magical as the perfectly overbearing Cipriana. And Mikel Losada did an amzing job bringing to life a character that was so easy to despise as Pedro Alberto. Such great work all around.

Check it out Folks! This is a truly magical piece of Spanish cinema that you are all sure to love. Enjoy!

The Bastards Fig Tree will receive a digital release June 4. Look for it wherever you buy your films.