Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Lucía is a young waitress in Madrid who seeks refuge on a quiet, secluded Mediterranean island after the loss of her longtime boyfriend. Amidst the fresh air, dazzling sun, and glistening deep blue water, Lucía begins to piece together the dark corners of her past relationship.
Sex and Lucía is a visually sumptuous Spanish drama from Julio Medem, most celebrated for its cinematography — the contrast between sun-drenched Formentera and the shadowy Madrid flashbacks is genuinely striking, shot on DV in a way that was distinctive and sensuous for its time. The non-linear, puzzle-box narrative structure is engaging and the film handles its interweaving timelines with skill, though the plot occasionally strains credibility with its coincidences. Acting is competent and naturalistic, with Paz Vega delivering a warm lead performance, but no individual turn is truly exceptional. Novelty sits in the middle — Medem has a recognizable authorial voice and the film's fragmented dream-logic is distinctive, though it treads familiar European art-cinema territory. The ending is emotionally resonant but somewhat ambiguous in a way that feels a touch unearned.