THE NEST Movie Review

El Nido

The extraordinary Ana Torrent, who was the wide-eyed young star of Cria and Spirit of the Beehive, is a 13-year-old schoolgirl who's the target of the unhealthy, obsessive interest of an aging, wealthy don (Hector Alterio). The Nest looks at first to be a teasing exploitation film disguised as art, but then something unexpected happens; it does become art. The Nest gets better as it goes along, evolving into a dark and witty examination of the dynamics of desire, repression and guilt. While it never reaches Buñuelian heights, it's a smart, compassionate and highly engaging surprise, featuring yet another remarkable performance from Torrent.

NEXT STOP … Spirit of the Beehive, Lolita (1962), Viridiana

1980 109m/C SP Ana Torrent, Hector Alterio, Patricia Adriani, Luis Politti, Augustin Gonzalez; D: Jaime de Arminan; W: Jaime de Arminan; C: Teo Escamilla. Nominations: Academy Awards ‘80: Best Foreign-Language Film. VHS