El oro del tiempo

A story of true love inspired by real events. Alfredo, a doctor, had his deceased young wife cryogenically frozen many years ago, convinced that one day science would be able to bring her back to life. The dedication with which the protagonist cares for this “domestic grave” becomes the basis for the portrayal of an intriguing individual, clearly eccentric, but admirable in his moral integrity. The narrative flows in a spirit of melancholy, in harmony with the changing seasons and the nostalgia of the central character. Yet there are moments of gentle humour as well, particularly in the scenes where Alfredo projects old family photographs in which his beloved Amalia flaunts her beauty. Light irony also underlies the depiction of the doctor’s daily life, with images reflecting his ambivalent relationship towards his housekeeper and nurse Corona and towards his son, who is the exact opposite of his father, yet they understand one another. Without resorting to dramatic plot twists, the film probes the hidden layers of human relationships and also explores issues of aging and passing. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)