Extraterrestrial (Nacho Vigalondo, 2011): Spain

Reviewed by Laura Lopez. Viewed at the AFI Fest 2011.

Extraterrestrial, a romantic comedic thrill of two young people’s flare endures an alien invasion of an unknown ship hovering the city of Madrid and a stalker neighbor.  Directed by Nacho Vigalondo and produced by Nahikari Ipina and Vigalondo, creates a sense of paranoiac ambience for Julio (Julian Villagran) and Julia (Michelle Jenner) in the contemporary world whose intimate relationship sustains all the crazy planning to protect and resist from the alien invasion and restless behavior.

 Julio wakes up from a hangover unknowing previous night and ended in someone’s home, wandering in the home he walks into the kitchen with a half dresses young lady, Julia. They reacquaint themselves of the night before and their activities, to find that they have been disconnected to any reception in the apartment.  They look outside the terrace window to see a ship hovering the city but seem to be no activity. After deciding to stay in the apartment they come to agreement of security and shifts for protection. Coincidently Julia doesn’t tell Julio about the persistent neighbor or her boyfriend who check on her and leave Julio as a stranger needing help. Many lies lead Julio and Julio to improvise and hide the reality of their affection towards each other regardless the other men and their plan to protect themselves in the opportunistic chance to be the hero.

 Taking place in an apartment complex the setting it created an enclosed and intimate space with soft light that focused on the intimacy and affection Julio and Julia had for each other, secretly yearning for each other. With attractive actors they created a funny and softness of a love that shouldn’t have unraveled. The dialogue was realistic and funny that carried subtle message of idiocy. The costumes depicted the youthfulness and each of the characters roles of significance.  The cinematography and music flowed with the movie, capturing each detail of the expressions of each character and the beauty of a room and city.