‘Close Your Eyes’ Review – A Triumphant Look At Self-Reflection And How Film Shapes Us

The power of cinema is often elusive and difficult to explain. Films can put words and images to things we’ve felt but never been able to express ourselves. They can help us discover parts of our forgotten identity or reveal new things about the world and how we relate to it. Spanish filmmaker Víctor Erice explores how films impact our lives and bring us together in Close Your Eyes, his first feature film since 1992. Set in 2012, the movie follows Miguel (Manolo Solo), a former director, who is suddenly thrust into his past after a television show digs up the story of his last film where his star, Julio (José Coronado) one day walked off set never to be seen again.

The opening scene is a long take from Miguel’s last film Farewell Gaze in the 1990s, one of only two scenes they captured before Julio’s disappearance. His screen presence in the film within the film is immaculate and indicates a man with a long career of holding the camera’s attention. Coronado’s performance as Julio is just as enigmatic as his character in Farewell Gaze, seeing just a small glimpse into who he was while leaving an air of mystery around him. He’s been presumed dead for nearly twenty years, and even all that time leaves no closure for those closest to him, Miguel being chief among them.

At nearly three hours long, Close Your Eyes is a slow, meditative mystery that dives right into Miguel’s life. There are many parallels between Erice’s internal life and this film. He’s entering his mid-80s and is digging into his past much like Miguel is throughout the movie. Miguel is searching for answers about his long-lost friend but also longs to seek clarity on the entirety of his life. The making of Farewell Gaze was a turning point for him, and he never directed another film. The film balances self-discovery alongside revelations of what might have happened to Julio splendidly, leaving enough room for both explorations to develop.

Solo and Coronado are absolutely brilliant throughout the film, and while Solo gets most of the screen time you come away speechless from Coronado’s depth and range on display. Both performances are immensely internal, but they widely differ from one another in a variety of ways. For Solo, much of his inner thought is conveyed through body language and expression, where you could watch Coronado‘s Julio for days on end and you’d never know what’s going on behind those eyes.

Close Your Eyes is truly a deep study of the effects of cinema on those who engage with it. Even after years of not directing, Miguel is still hung up on how Farewell Gaze influenced his life. Since the day Julio walked out on him, he’s lost a part of himself that came alive through filmmaking. Of course, he’s gone on to find other things that would otherwise not have been part of his life, but he still mourns this loss decades later. As he and those around him delve into the past hoping to find signs of Julio, they keep circling back to that last film, who they were then, and who they’ve become. In different ways, revisiting Farewell Gaze unlocks something inside them, even if we are unable to pierce through their outward expressions and see what’s connecting in their hearts and minds.

Federico Jusid’s moving, piano-driven score combined with the slow, pensive photography from Valentin Álavarez only adds to the emotional revelations found in all 169 minutes of Close Your Eyes. Despite its length, not a moment is wasted. Reflective processing takes time, and this film reminds us of this repeatedly. The camera lingers on every word, every thought that Miguel experiences throughout his sojourn into his past.

Víctor Erice is yet another master filmmaker in his 80s reflecting on his life and finding a lot to offer through his craft. Close Your Eyes is a surprisingly effective film that explores how art and life are intertwined, no matter how long it’s been since we last engaged with it. It will reinvigorate your love of cinema and how necessary it can be for the world.

Close Your Eyes is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Film Movement.