Little Ashes Movie Review

Robert Pattinson and Javier Beltran Fall in Love in This Dali Biopic

May 22, 2009

Paul Morrison's Little Ashes explores the homoerotic friendship between the great surrealist painter Salvador Dalí, and poet Federico García Lorca.

"To see you naked is to recall the Earth." Federico García Lorca in Diván del Tamarit, 1936.

Soon after his arrival in Madrid in 1922, the young Salvador Dalí (played by Twilight's Robert Pattinson) befriends poet Federico García Lorca (Javier Beltrán,) a romantic revolutionary who falls in love with Dalí, much to the dismay of their other friends – forward-thinking artists and filmmakers who seem oddly prisoner of the homophobic society in which they live.

While for the adventurous and eccentric Dalí, this is but a passing phase, García Lorca's love for the painter turns into an all-consuming passion that threatens to destroy his life, and his sanity.

Homoeroticism

In the 1969 Conversations with Dalí, by Alain Bosquet, Dalí admits to having felt a homosexual attraction towards García Lorca but while he acknowledges that García Lorca was in love with him, he denies ever consuming the sexual relationship.

Little Ashes hints at Dalí's sexual perversions, his voyeuristic nature, and the complexity of his relationship with Gala – his wife and muse – but gives audiences a sugar-coated version of the painter's early sexual explorations, offering but a glimpse of his traumatic, painful first experiences.

Brideshead Redux

Given the movie's sumptuous production design by Pere Francesch and gorgeous costumes by Antonio Bellart, one can't help but be reminded of Brideshead Revisited. The action takes place in the same era, and the plot of Little Ashes, too, focuses on glorious, decadent youth with lofty ideals and dubious morals (for their times!)

Robert Pattinson and Javier Beltrán work well together, and are believable as lovers; there is chemistry between the two young actors – certainly more than there was between Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in the Twilight Saga – and those who come to Little Ashes to see Robert Pattinson will be pleased.

The first thing that comes to mind when he first appears on screen is "brilliant." The young actor oozes sexuality and an oddly shy confidence, and his talent is obvious. Given the right script, Pattinson could go places.

Eye Candy

Viewers who see Little Ashes to find out about Salvador Dalí and his mad genius will be disappointed. For all its luscious textures and colours and eye candy – of which there is plenty! – Little Ashes comes out a little drab and dim.

For sure, it is a nice tribute to a little known homosexual love affair. However, Dalí was known for his eccentricities, erratic behaviour, and his extreme statements – be it flamboyance in terms of fashion and style, or absurd diatribes and shocking announcements.

"The only difference," Dalí is known to have stated proudly, "between me and a madman, is that I am not mad."

Unfortunately, Pattinson's Dalí is handsome, sensual, dashing and engaging… But he is simply not mad enough.

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