Running for their lives amidst the sound of guns, Nico asks his wife, “are you okay?” expecting a yes in return, but she bluntly says “NO.”
In another scene, the couple ponders while looking at a woman, “do you think she is pregnant? She is all alone,” asks Mia, “if she is pregnant, she is not alone,” answers Nico.
This poignant moment subtly encapsulates the essence of Nowhere, a captivating new Spanish film that showcases the resilience of a woman bearing an infant.
I don’t remember when I last watched a proper survival drama except for No One Will Save You, which predominantly fell in the horror genre.
Nevertheless, Nowhere is now available on Netflix as a thrilling, dark, and suspenseful survival drama, at least on paper.
The movie’s length is a rough 110 minutes.
Nowhere Synopsis
After a regime change in their home country, hundreds of people flee to safer places. Among them are Mia, Nico – and their yet-to-be-born child – hidden in a container.
The fascist rulers kill people like insects and the couple is separated before they can reach the destination.
A pregnant Mia is left stranded inside the container, which is now floating on the sea.
Nowhere is directed by Albert Pinto and it stars Anna Castillo (Mia) and Tamar Novas (Nico) in lead roles.
What Works for Nowhere?
Picture this: a pregnant woman, confined within the claustrophobic confines of a sealed container, adrift on a tempestuous sea during a raging storm.
Can it possibly get more harrowing than this? Yes, it can and it does in Nowhere.
There are details I am deliberately keeping from you because I hate drafting spoilers in my movie reviews.
Nowhere is the epitome of stupendous execution of a survival drama.
The makers have created genuine difficulties for themselves and made the going tough for the protagonist at every step culminating in the perfect recipe for the genre at hand.
Breaking away from the conventional and crafting something capable of deeply resonating with the audience is the aspiration of every storyteller.
Amidst our daily privileges, we often overlook the profound significance of simply being alive.
We tend to take it for granted and occasionally find ourselves grumbling about life’s trials and tribulations.
Nowhere, through its ingenuine plot, makes you introspect and appreciate whatever little is there.
The film is replete with heart-wrenching scenes of struggle, whether it’s Mia’s desperate act of consuming her umbilical cord or the ruthless gunmen showing no mercy to innocent civilians.
Each moment chips away at your emotions.
Furthermore, the emotional resonance is profound. The film, particularly Mia’s unwavering struggle, lingers in your thoughts long after the credits roll.
The resolute storyline doesn’t create artificial emotional spaces; rather, it naturally integrates them into the narrative.
Though there is just one character at play at most times, the makers manage to throw up a tantalizing screenplay.
It glues you, irritates you, wants you to stop midway, and still doesn’t let you leave. Pure art.
How are the Performances?
It is all about Anna Castillo in Nowhere. She plays Mia, a helpless woman on the brink of an exodus. The actress puts so much life into Mia that thinking of the movie as fiction becomes hard.
She is flawlessly astonishing. Her expressions adeptly exhibit pain, trauma, and grief. Her debilitating demeanor screams of conviction.
Castillo uses her eyes to convey a spectrum of human emotions and interactions.
Her performance transcends the specific circumstances and is a testament to her mindfulness and emotional range.
There are several ways to depict a character struggling to keep up when faced with extreme trauma. However, Anna Castillo’s method, or say approach to the same is uplifting and inspiring.
What Doesn’t Work for Nowhere?
I loved the movie and hence, don’t have any reservations worth mentioning here.
Stream or Skip?
Nowhere is the film to watch at any cost. Human resilience can break barriers beyond its scope and realms.
Find your popcorn, gather your friends, and enjoy the evening show at home.
Leave a Reply