Little Ashes – Paul Morrison

Little Ashes is the biopic of two influential people in the world, the Spanish painter Salvador Dali (Robert Pattinson) and poet/dramatist Federico Garcia Lorca (Javier Beltran). Their acquaintance had been the subject for many years. Everyone knew about the homosexuality of Lorca, on the other hand Dali denied it all though his life and not until in his last years he finally admitted something more than friendship was going between both of them.

No body is certain about what had really happened, through their letters, the only thing we are sure is something was going on there. They had developed beyond friendship but how far? Dali once stated Lorca had tried to screw him twice and he was extremely annoyed as he wasn’t homosexual. However he also stated “Deep down I felt that he was a great poet and that I owe him a tiny bit of the Divine Dali's asshole.” I’m not trying to draw a assumption here but the truth speaks for itself.

Not only Dali but also most of us are hiding at least a part of ourselves, wishing no body would ever find out. Sometime is not always about how people look at you, is how you see yourself. We are always so conscious of what others would think which somehow hinder our truthfulness not only to others but most importantly ourselves. The hardest task in the world is to face yourself in the minor and look at your wounds and falsenesses and show them to the world. It is about being yourself and being naked in front of others.

Compare to the recent biopics Seraphine (A French Navie painter) and John Kates (Romantic Poet) they all share the same sadness. I know sometimes we need some experiences to carry on our lives and it is an integral part specially being an artist but it is depressing when I learnt most of them suffered more than they enjoyed themselves. The more I perk into their lives the more I realize success never comes easy. Suck it up people.

The surprise of the movie is Robert Pattinson, never thought that he could actually act. He is known for his role in the Twilight series, and Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter series which probably not so recognizable. People go crazy for him just because of his look, no matter how much I love the Twilight series there is not single moment I was touched by Pattinson but now I’m impressed. Pattinson captures the initial shyness and growing flamboyance of Dali brilliantly. Have to say Pattinson was brave enough to take this role.

The only problem I had with this movie was the accent. There is not reason to have such a heavy Spanish accent while making this movie in English in the first place. It was really hard to follow sometimes. It did give a slightly hint of being a foreign story. Nevertheless it would be better if had been in Spanish. It will be more believable. I still like it this way otherwise I will never know Pattinson can act.

This is only a speculation of the life of Dali and Lorca, no matter they are real or not this is still a moving piece. There are so many limitations when you are trying to live without them. In the movie Dali said if you want to be a good artist you must go beyond limits. No rules, no regrets, no returns.