Director: Benjamin Millepied
Writers: Loïc Barrere, Alexander Dinelaris, and Lisa Loomer
Starring: Melissa Barrera and Paul Mescal
Beautiful and bold, but questionable romance
There is no denying the eye-catching scenes throughout ‘Carmen.’ Ranging from vast desert scenery to groups of people dancing, audiences will be pleased by the fast-paced nature of the film which leads us to the introduction of our two main characters.
Carmen (Melissa Barrera) and Aidan (Paul Mescal) meet under distressing circumstances.
After her mother’s passing, Carmen decides to migrate to the United States without the proper documentation. She travels with a group, including children, during the night. Everyone watching these scenes will feel the fear and tension of the situation. Carmen’s caring nature is highlighted when she sings for one of the children. Yet the endearing, and abrupt, song downplays the fear and exhaustion that accompanies the migration across the Mexican and United States border.
Cut to Aidan, forced to be the ‘eyes’ of the desert and report back any suspicions to border control. Sent out with Mike, the trigger-happy partner, audiences will be shocked by Mike’s lack of humanity and compliance with the rules of his job. Instead of reporting back the discovery of many people crossing into the United States, Mike begins shooting and chasing the group. Killing many and capturing Carmen, Mike juxtaposes Aidan. So much so that Aidan decides to shoot Mike. Allowing Carmen to escape and steal Aidan and Mike’s truck, forcing Aidan to jump in the bed of the truck before he is left in the unforgiving desert with Mike’s body.
This is where the film really begins to pick up as Carmen and Aidan end up on the run together from U.S. authorities for two vastly different reasons. The plot continually moves forward as they run, keeping a central need present. Then, the smaller, more intimate details about Carmen’s grief for her mother and Aidan’s PTSD as a marine, provide insight to each of the characters.
But the romance that blossoms between Carmen and Aidan feels more out of place as it grows. Viewers are caught off guard by the intimacy that is followed by Carmen’s grief for her mother. The priority for love in replace of other emotions seems to impede Carmen more than her counterpart. Especially since their runaway statuses have incomparable crimes, with Aidan possibly facing charges of murder, which places Carmen in more danger. The bounds of love that developed throughout a couple of days appear to be a result of circumstance instead of choice. Especially as Aidan is benefitting from their relationship through the safety and shelter of Carmen’s family friend, meanwhile Carmen must find emotional peace from grief through her mother’s friend Masilda (Rossy de Palma).
‘Carmen’ has an undeniable visual appeal for viewers that is paired with music and bold dancing. Where audiences may fall out of sync is within the context of love and the boundaries between two newly-met people.
Plot: ★★☆☆☆ 2/5
Cinematography: ★★★★☆ 4/5
Character Arc(s): ★★☆☆☆ 2/5
