Shamefully overlooked on its cinema release this great small film comes to DVD focusing on the little known relationship between Spanish Poet Federico Garcia Lorca and Salvador Dali as they studied together in at University together in Madrid in the 1920s along with friend and fellow artist Luis Bunuel.

Dali went to Madrid University determined to become a great artist. During this period his personality is starting to form and swings from being shy to rampant exhibitionism where he wants to attract the attention of the universities social elite including Federico Garcia Lorca (Javier Beltran) and Luis Bunuel (Matthew McNulty). They soon become an unstoppable trio and leaders of their ultra-modern group of friends. But as time passes Dali is more and more attracted to Lorca and the trios bond is challenged forcing Bunuel to head for Paris to find his own success their. Then while on holiday together Dali and Lorca become far closer than either of them could have imagined, and things change forever.

As many know from the later work of Dali, he was often so eccentric and mad acting in public. So it is a breath of fresh air to learn about his early life and how he may have become the man he did and this film although part biography of the man does try and do this, but really at the centre of the film is the loving relationship between Dali and his friend Lorca. It is beautifully realised from the lavish and luscious locations to Adam Suschitzkys stunning cinematography which manages to capture a real artistic feel for the film that compliments the material well and looks fabulous on DVD. The performances from the three leads are all excellent with kudos to Pattinson and McNulty for both pulling off good Spanish accents alongside the other native cast members without sounding like Manuel at all!

In fact Pattinson here is proving outside of dying in Harry Potter films and sulking in the Twilight that he has real potential for the future should he decide to dump the teenage roles. McNulty does well as Bunuel even though he is the straight man (excuse me) to the other leads more colourful performances but he only comes in and out of film really. It is Beltran that is the real centre of the film here as it really is his story that drives the narrative forward and his performance is nuanced and excellent. But the film feels a little long in places even while watching at home and sags in the third act but picks up for a decent enough ending.

Its an ambitious and intelligent film however, well crafted by director Morrison with a good script and great score and is well worth buying even if to learn a little more about these 3 extraordinary men.

Rating (Film): ***

The DVD Extras consist of two brief auditions by Javier Beltran and Marina Gatell which are fascinating to see if a little brief. More interesting are the interviews with the director, writer and producer and all the main actors involved. Here we learn more about last minute casting changes, how the script and story were shaped and how all the actors performed in the film from their rehearsals and work on set. There is also a short behind the scenes montage cut to music which is pretty enough to watch but really needed a commentary. In fact there is no commentary at all here which is a waste as is the opportunity to include documentaries on Dali, Lorca or Bunuel! A simple trailer completes the package.

Pretty good, but more couldve been done. Shame!

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By: Mike Edwards