2015
Comments
by Johnny Moronic
Palmeras
En La Nieve (Palm
Trees In The Snow) is
a drama where Killan
(Mario Casas), a young
Spanish man, goes to
the island of Fernando
Poo (an island off the
West African coast
that is a part of
Equatorial Guinea)
where his father and
brother is work with
them. It is a time of
heavy political
upheaval with the last
remnants of Spanish
rule playing out on
the island during
Killan's time there.
In 2003, Killan's
daughter Clarence
(Adriana Ugarte), is
doing her PhD and
after her father dies,
she decides to look
into her father's time
on the island. She
knows that he left the
island in the 70s and
gets the help of local
guide Iniko (Djedje
Apali), who she falls
in love with, although
this proves dangerous
as things are very
different. When Iniko
discovers that
Clarence has a
photograph of a group
of people on the
island, to his
surprise, he
recognises that one of
the people in the
picture is his mother.
Iniko takes Clarence
to his mother and she
recalls that as a
nurse back in the 70s,
Bisila (Berta Vázquez)
had a relationship
with Killan that
lasted many years and
they even had a son
together who is
Iniko's brother (Phew!
Because if it was
Iniko...).
Interesting and
sweeping tale which
even at 165 minutes is
never boring despite
being a familiar tale
of political intrigue
and a love that can
never be. Casas looks
like he's going to be
next big Spanish star
and is great here and
newcomer Vázquez is
gorgeous and plays a
convincing lover for
Killan. Worth a look
if you are into epic
tales of love.
