Lucía is a young waitress in Madrid, who seeks refuge on a quiet, secluded Mediterranean island after the loss of her longtime boyfriend. Amidst the fresh air, dazzling sun, and glistening deep blue water, Lucía begins to piece together the dark corners of her past relationship. Enthralling on every level, Sex and Lucia is a stirring love story that dazzles with its labyrinthine plot, breathtaking cinematography and erotic passion.
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Video Quality
Sex and Lucía comes to Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer that favorably displays this movie as intended. There is no verbiage or other indication that this new release provides a remaster for the material, leading us to believe that this comes from the same source as the long out of print Blu-Ray from over a decade ago. Having never had the chance to view that release, it is difficult to say how it compares to that disc. This film was shot on digital video and processed like crazy with distinct visual choices which may be visually interesting, but does not always make for the most gorgeous transfer. That being said, this Blu-Ray release attempts to dial everything into the precise frequency which really makes it sing.
At its most basic level, there does not appear to be much of anything in the way of damage, and overall clarity and detail is mighty impressive. This is a film with sparse production design for extended sequences, but there are subtle elements of the interiors that are easily noticeable thanks to this transfer. The vast expanses of nature and ocean are detailed and hold together nicely. Colors are well saturated during the more “normal” moments, while other sequences on the island are almost entirely desaturated as Medem pushes for extreme contrast. The white levels are pushed to the brink until they ask for mercy, but even still the shots seem to stave off any blooming. Black levels hold up well with little in the way of crush. Digital noise does pop up but does not present as a major issue here. This film makes very considered choices, and this transfer does a fine job of translating that to a fetching disc.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track in the original Spanish with optional English subtitles. Environmental sounds are helpful in crafting the mood of the film with the vast ocean sounds especially effective in key scenes. These are all rendered well alongside all of the competing sounds. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. The romantic score sounds great throughout the duration of the film, as it settles you into the playful and mysterious nature of the story. There are never moments where it threatens to overwhelm the dialogue, as the track maintains a good balance so that everything comes through clearly. Music Box Films has given this film the faithfully preserved, rich audio presentation it deserves.
Special Features
- Lucia In Wonderland: An insightful new 13-minute visual essay in which film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas explores the dreamlike quality of the film including its connection to the moon, the significance of the ocean, the sensuality of the sex scenes, how the camera captures movement, the tactile nature of film and more. This is a lovely addition to the package.
- Making Of Sex and Lucia: A nearly 27-minute featurette which takes you behind the scenes of the creation of the film in which the cast and creative team discuss the narrative of the film, the construction of certain scenes, pivotal narrative moments, character arcs, the themes that are examined and more.
- Cast & Crew Interviews: A 28-minute collection of interviews with the key talent involved in which they touch on the movie, their place within it, their experiences bringing it to life and more.
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- Paz Vega
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- Tristán Ulloa
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- Elena Anaya
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- Najwa Nimri
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- Javier Cámara
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- Daniel Freire
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- Montse Sanz
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- Kiko De La Rica
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- Julio Medem
- Photo Gallery: A collection of stills from the production of the film are provided here.
- Trailers: Two trailers totaling four minutes are provided here.
Final Thoughts
Sex and Lucía has the artifice of a sleazy sexploitation film with its evocative title and its pervasive nudity throughout. Yet, those who take time to watch it will understand that it is far more than just some cheap thrills. First and foremost, the narrative depth on display is beyond reproach, as you navigate desire and grief in equal measure. The non-linear presentation and magical realism keeps you off kilter in a really thrilling manner that rewards more and more as you explore it. And yes, there is a good deal of exposed skin, but it is shot with romance and longing in mind rather than base sexuality. The movie does not always balance the gaze equally, but it controls itself enough to not make you feel skeezy at the end of the day. Music Box Films has provided a Blu-Ray with a strong A/V presentation and a nice array of supplemental features. If you are a fan of exploring deep human emotions of pleasure and pain, this is the movie for you. Highly Recommended
Sex and Lucía is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Music Box Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.