The Limits of Control — A man walks through Spain with no clear purpose
The film's deliberate slowness and vague dialogue make it difficult to engage with emotionally or intellectually, despite its visual appeal.
Text size
Spoiler-free review.
A lone assassin drifts through Spain with no clear mission or emotional hook. His journey feels aimless, and without a strong conflict or goal, the story lacks momentum. The viewer ends up just watching, not really invested in what happens next.
The cinematography is impressive, but it can't make up for the film's lack of real content. Long stretches of dialogue feel pointless, like waiting for something that never comes. The slow pace turns even the most visually appealing scenes into a drag.
Isaach de Bankolé plays his role with calm detachment, but that doesn't help the film feel more grounded. Hiam Abbass and Gael García Bernal are present but their characters don't get much development. The dialogue is flat, with conversations that don't seem to have much point.
The film tries hard to be ambitious, but it doesn't have a story or characters that make it worth watching. It looks great, but emotionally it feels empty. You're left with more questions than answers, and not much to connect with personally.
2009 · English. Film details · Poster source · Artwork © its respective rights holders.
6/10
My verdictThe film's deliberate slowness and vague dialogue make it difficult to engage with emotionally or intellectually, despite its visual appeal.
— Desly