Pros: Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem; Farhadi did not forget about the denouement when answering the question about the kidnapping Cons: two-plus hours of family drama is too much. If the film were even a little shorter, “Everybody Knows” (Todos lo saben) would be perfect.
Genre Drama, Thriller
Directed by Asghar Farhadi
Starring Penelope Cruz (Laura), Javier Bardem (Paco), Ricardo Darin (Alejandro), Barbara Lenni (Bea), Ramon Barea (Laura’s father), etc.
Studios Memento Films, Morena Films, Lucky Red
Year of release 2018 (in Ukraine 2019)
IMDb website
Asghar Farhadi is well known in Europe and even in the USA – he was twice awarded an Oscar in the category for best foreign film (statues in different years were given to the films “The Divorce of Nader and Simin”, “The Salesman”).
When Farhadi’s name became known worldwide, he became part of a French-Spanish-Italian production project. Asghar, who had previously worked primarily with Iranian artists, needed to direct the filming process with the participation of Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem. With such interethnic intricacies, the film “Everybody Knows” could turn into a rather controversial project, but the result turned out to be very harmonious.
The director did an excellent job with the nuances of Spanish cinema and, being the screenwriter of the film, brought his signature style to it. In his films, Farhadi likes to raise the theme of family ties, which hide unsaid moments that can destroy even the strongest unions. Sounds like a brief synopsis of a soap opera? This is partly true. But with Oscar-winning actors on screen working under the direction of an Oscar-winning director, the spectacle promises to be entertaining. In addition, “Everybody Knows” is a thriller that keeps the intrigue until the very end.
The film follows a woman named Laura (Penelope Cruz) who travels from Argentina with her two children to her hometown in Spain for her sister’s wedding. On the occasion of the holiday, a large family gathers and the celebration lasts throughout the night. It was at this time that Laura’s daughter disappears, and the next day a message arrives from the kidnappers demanding a large ransom. Laura is afraid to go to the police, so she enlists the help of Paco (Javier Bardem) – he is not only a family friend, but also a big part of Laura’s past.
Everybody Knows doesn’t fit into the typical thriller mold. The beginning of the film introduces the outskirts of the city, where everybody knows each other. A large family gathers under one roof and the audience can see the joy of reunion and a noisy celebration. Farhadi pays a lot of attention to detail. Not at all with the goal of making them evidence important for the climax, but rather to feel the atmosphere of the house, family traditions and see the intricacies of everyday life.
We hear laughter, clinking glasses and clapping to the beat of the music. When Laura’s family starts dancing, you completely forget that something bad is going to happen in this film. When a kidnapping occurs, the focus on detail is no less important. Relatives still gather at the same table and drink wine. However, the atmosphere changes and Farhadi shows the influence of class and status in a difficult situation. In moments of despair, the worst enemy for the main characters is not the kidnappers, but old grievances and forgotten stories.
The obvious flaw of Everybody Knows is that Farhadi gets too carried away with family drama, testing the viewer’s patience. At some point, the film begins to resemble a Spanish TV series that was edited into one feature film. In this situation, only the performance of Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem can compensate for the protracted suffering. We have seen their family duet on the screen more than once (from the last one we can recall the biopic about the drug lord “Escobar”), and it is still interesting to watch the actors.
Everybody Knows was the opening film of the 71st Cannes International Film Festival. He participated in the main competition, but did not receive an award. Impressions from the film are similar to the results of the festival – viewing is worth attention, but not special honors.
Conclusion:
The film Everybody Knows (Todos lo saben) is very European, emotional and atmospheric in Spanish. In places it turns into a soap opera, which is saved by good direction and famous actors.
