Don’t Move

It is just so obvious that Don’t Move is directed by a male Spanish director – not only that, he decides to take the lead opposite Cruz knowing that his character has a passionately torrid affair with her too. A tough assignment but someone’s got to do it.

The plot is pure male fantasy land material. A male surgeon Dr Timoteo Rossi (Castelitto) is in hospital. On the operating table is his daughter who has had a serious accident having been thrown off her scooter. Timoteo is told he better not do the operation and whilst he’s in the next room, he remembers an affair he had one long hot summer.

Timoteo has a loving, attractive, supportive, easygoing wife but he needs some help one day on a dusty road and appeals to a poor dishevelled young woman Italia (Cruz) wanting to use her phone. Of course it doesn’t end there. Next day he’s there again – only this time its not the phone he’s after, instead he wants to take Italia on the living-room floor in a rough encounter that’s close to rape. Some would say it is. Does Italia report him ? Of course, not. Instead within a few days, she’s looking forward to Timi’s clumsy, rough and selfish attempts at sex and even making him snacks afterwards.

Where will the affair end ? Do you care ? Frankly I did care about Timoteo’s wife – she does absolutely nothing to warrant this errant hubby behaviour and that is what makes the story seemingly inexplicable – you just don’t see what Italia offers the surgeon that his own wife couldn’t unless the point is that he’s really just after illicit sex on the side.

Yes, there’s a twist or two in the tale but frankly you’d hope there would be. Its well made but wholly indulgent of that common male whim of a guy wanting to have his cake and eat more on the side. Perhaps it was wishful thinking on Castelitto’s side to direct a film like this – certainly he struck lucky securing Cruz to star opposite him.

Matt Arnoldi