Take My Eyes

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Take My Eyes
Theatrical release poster
SpanishTe doy mis ojos
Directed byIcíar Bollaín
Written by
  • Icíar Bollaín
  • Alicia Luna
Produced bySantiago García de Leániz
Starring
CinematographyCarles Gusi
Edited byÁngel Hernández Zoido
Music byAlberto Iglesias
Distributed bySogepaq
Release date
  • 2003 (2003)
Running time
109 min.
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

Take My Eyes (Spanish: Te doy mis ojos, lit. 'I Give You My Eyes') is a 2003 Spanish romantic drama film directed and co-written by Icíar Bollaín, starring Laia Marull and Luis Tosar. Critically acclaimed for its unclichéd treatment of domestic violence, it won seven Goya Awards in 2004, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. Shooting locations included Toledo.[1]

Plot[edit]

Pilar, a meek housewife living in Toledo, gathers a few belongings one night and flees her apartment with her seven-year-old son, Juan. They find shelter with Pilar's sister, Ana, who is to marry her Scottish live-in boyfriend soon. Pilar's husband, Antonio, tries to make her change her mind, but she is tired and fearful of his abusive behavior. Determined to start a new life on her own, Pilar sends her sister to retrieve her belongings from the apartment she shared with Antonio. Once there, Ana discovers through medical bills that her sister has also been physically abused by Antonio. When he arrives, Ana confronts him.

Antonio still loves his wife, but he cannot control his short temper, and violent outbursts. Trying to bring Pilar back, he joins an anger management group of married men who want to change their abusive behavior towards their wives. With her sister's encouragement, Pilar finds a job in the gift shop of a local tourist attraction, where Ana also works restoring paintings. Pilar begins to study in order to become a tour guide.

Despite Ana's protests, her mother Aurora invites Antonio to Juan's birthday party. Pilar still loves Antonio despite his abusive behavior. Juan misses his father and Pilar begins to soften her attitude towards her husband. When they have a chance to talk, Antonio tells her he wants to change and is enrolled in group therapy. He has to learn to deal with his frustration as a salesman in an appliance store. Pilar soon warms up to him again, and they begin to sneak out for secret meetings and romantic encounters. Pilar, with the full support of her mother, takes Antonio to Ana's wedding. The two sisters argue after Pilar tells Ana that she is going back to her husband. At first, Pilar and Antonio are happy to be back together. Encouraged by his wife, Antonio continues with his anger management therapy. However, he feels threatened by Pilar's economic independence, as she continues to work in the gift shop.

Pilar applies for a job as a tour guide in a museum in Madrid. They would have to leave Toledo and live in Madrid, but Antonio is afraid to move, fearing it would be difficult for him to find an equivalent level of job in Madrid. Pilar's efforts to convince him that if she gets the job and they move to Madrid it would be beneficial fall on deaf ears. The day of her job interview, as a coworker is waiting for her outside the flat to take her there, Antonio explodes in anger. He tears off Pilar's clothes and locks her stark naked in the balcony for all the neighbors to see. After this humiliation, Pilar threatens to leave Antonio, who responds by attempting suicide by cutting. After this final assault, Pilar leaves Antonio for good.

Cast[edit]

Reception[edit]

The film was highly praised for the emotional truths of its portrayal of domestic violence, and the internal conflicts of the protagonists.

Accolades[edit]

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2004 18th Goya Awards Best Film Won [2]
Best Director Iciar Bollain Won
Best Original Screenplay Iciar Bollain, Alicia Luna Won
Best Actor Luis Tosar Won
Best Actress Laia Marull Won
Best Supporting Actress Candela Peña Won
Best New Actress Elisabet Gelabert Nominated
Best Sound Eva Valiño, Pelayo Gutiérrez, Alfonso Pino, José Luis Crespo Won
Best Editing Ángel Hernández Zoido Nominated
13th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Film Actress in a Leading Role Laia Marull Won [3]
Best Film Actor in a Leading Role Luis Tosar Won
Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role Candela Peña Won
2005 47th Ariel Awards Best Ibero-American Film Nominated [4]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Icíar Bollaín estrena en Toledo 'Te doy mis ojos'". El Mundo. 10 October 2003.
  2. ^ "Te doy mis ojos". premiosgoya.com. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  3. ^ Benito, Miren Lucía (10 May 2004). "'Aquí no hay quien viva' y 'Te doy mis ojos', grandes ganadoras en los Premios Unión de Actores". elmundo.es.
  4. ^ "Entrega del Ariel a lo mejor del Cine Mexicano". Academia Mexicana de Artes y Ciencias Cinematograficas. 2005. Archived from the original on 2005-10-26. Retrieved 2022-04-28.

External links[edit]

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