Everybody Knows (Asghar Farhadi, 2018): Spain l France l Italy

Reviewed by Omar Jbilou. Viewed at the AFI Fest 2018.

Everybody knows; an intense drama featuring Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Ricardo Darin and Jaime Lorento that opened the 71st edition of Cannes makes a return at the AFI FEST 2018. Directed by Asghar Farhadi, the movie presents a gripping kidnaping mystery in a Spanish family, a coup that was so accurately planned that it shattered the core values of their family home.

Laura (Cruz) returns to her native village with her children for a big family wedding after a long time away in Argentina where she currently lives with her husband Alejandro (Darin). Her daughter Irene (Carla Campra) is immediately attracted Felipe, a local that takes her on a bike ride which draws her mother’s disapproval on their friendship. He takes her up the ancient church clock where they find the initials of her mother’s name carved in the stone next to a P. He then tells her that it referred to her mother’s first love, Paco (Bardem) their servant’s son, whose heart she broke when she left to Argentina. The boy finishes his story by affirming: “Todo lo saben – everybody knows”.

As the celebration starts, we see a big cohesive family having fun. Laura had to take her daughter to bed after she had too many drinks with her new friend. While everyone was drinking, dancing and laughing, the power went down. Attempting to fix the problem, Paco finds out that Irene is not in her bed anymore while newspaper articles of a big kidnapping in the area where left behind. The family shortly receive a threatening ransom request. The search for Irene begins, and suspicions start to arise. Did she run away with the boy? Why didn’t the kidnappers take her brother that is easier to carry? How would they know so much about the family? Is it someone from the inside? The family starts to fall apart as secrets from the past start resurfacing and they start doubting each other.

I particularly enjoyed watching this movie as it was well shot and every detail was cooked up to leave the audience on the edge of their seat at all time. Although it only cost $11.8 million to make, the movie gives a big-budget blockbuster impression because of the fluid editing, good cinematography and the remarkable performances of the major actors. The fast-moving movie with a suspenseful story has reminded me of Gone Girl (David Fincher) as they both keep you waiting for the next move and end in an unexpected twist.

I give this movie a 9/10.