Take My Eyes (2003)

Description

Enjoying a clean sweep at the 2004 Goyas-winning Best Picture, Director and Lead Actor and Actress awards - Take My Eyes is an uncompromising, provocative and emotionally raw drama that deals with the taboo subject of domestic violence. After suffering years of abuse at the hands of her brutish husband Antonio (Luis Tosar), Pilar (Laia Marull), a young Spanish mother, flees the marital home with son in tow. Taking refuge at her sister's (Candela Pena), Pilar begins to carve out a new life but returns home after receiving assurances that Antonio can keep his anger in check. But when Pilar begins to enjoy the new lease of life her career as a tour guide gives her, Antonio's violent outbursts terrifyingly resurface. Fashioned from a tense, frighteningly realistic script and featuring performances of astonishing intensity and depth, the film's non-sensationalist tone was much admired by Ken Loach. The third feature by Icier Bollain, Take My Eyes is undoubtedly a major achievement.