"Codex Atanicus" Review - Written by Anthony Thurber

Codex Atanicus

Year: 2007

Director: Carlos Atanes

Stars: Arantxa Pena, Manuel Solas, Antonio Vladimir

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Language: Spanish with English Subtitles

Studio: Kalashni Films

Running Time: 81 Mins

ReviewRating: 4 Stars

Official Website: http://www.carlosatanes.com/

Codex Atanicus is an anthology film that contains three short films from director Carlos Atanes that are weird, bizarre and unclassifiable to the mainstream moviegoer. In the first story Metaminds and Metabodies. The film takes place in the tavern where it is known as the waiting room from hell where the people that return from the other side of the mirror to come into the land of reality. In the second film Morfing, Atanes stars, as a director of television pilot wants to definitely leave the business for good by hanging himself. He then meets an intrepid journalist who wants him to fight off his own ghosts so they can survive the drains that lie in the Barcelona film system. And in the final film, Welcome to Spain, the film explores the plight of the hero. The hero in the past was always rewarded when he completes a successful fight, but fast forward into present time where now the hero falls into a corner in which he is now convinced that he is a complete failure to all.

Metaminds and Metabodies was a very surreal piece, as the film was very weird and very bizarre. But I really do respect what Atanes is trying to do with this short and in some way I thought, it was an okay film. He does a good job creating this surreal state that the main character is going through while to wait for his money. The action kept me interested in the film but the pace was slow at times. The director added the shocking imagery and eroticism to his story, which made this short film interesting to watch.

Next, Morfing is the best of the three short films, in this anthology. At least in this film, I could convey a message that the director in trying to use. I liked the fact that the director uses himself in an acting capacity and as the subject in the film. At least he getting the message that it’s tough to make a film or show when someone is sick of doing the same thing over and over and being told what to he can or cannot do. The film has a nice pace compared to the first film. He uses the title cards very well as it helped the surreal state of the film. The performances in the film were very good. The actors worked well with each other as their chemistry was very good.

Finally, Welcome To Spain was a weird but yet entertaining short. Atanes does a good job with this film. He uses the dark scenery of Spain very well as it gives the creepy vibe that something weird and bizarre is about to happen. I liked how in the first half of the film, he plays it straight by focusing on the relationship between the hero and his father. It was a very good idea for this film, as helped reel me into the madness and shocking imagery that was to come. He goes a very good job directing his actors in this short. It was very well acted. I thought everyone in that film pulled his or her roles off especially near the end of the film, when all the bizarreness happens. The actor’s actions in that scene really kept my eyes glued to insanity that was happening, because if the actors aren’t interested in the scene then in the final product, the scene doesn’t work for the viewer.

If you’re that person, who are into David Lynch or some of David Cronenburg’s earlier films then you should take a look at this film. Codex Atanicus was a very good experience into the world of bizarre storytelling and surreal imagery that kept me glued to the screen.

You can purchase this film by going to: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_d/102-7174847-5925759?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=codex+atanicus&x=0&y=0