1998. Stupid heart. Hector Babenko can shoot. You can't take that away from him. He knows how to create tension, unfolds the drama of the frame in the simplest and most imperceptible moves. This has been the case since the beginning of his career and has continued for many years. So in “Stupid Heart”, a film released in 1998 (then included in the program of the Cannes Festival), he fully demonstrates his talent.
He moderates scenes of violent youth in the bedroom. Bright and colorful, it becomes a kind of nuclear testing ground for the manifestation of their passions by two young people. After a long time, they will meet again. Accurate selection of aged and wounded by their unhappy loneliness actors here harmonizes with the views of the deserted beach, where the ending will unfold. However, perhaps the most successful scene of the film should recognize the moment of their meeting after a long separation. Only after looking at each other several times will they silently go to the entrance, where Babenko without any shame will quote Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris.
However, for all the obvious advantages of the tape, the film is somewhat discouraging with its contentlessness. Of course, meeting after a long separation of once close lovers is interesting. And the “relapse” of their passionate connection is predictable. But still, watching the movie, I did not leave the impression that the director shot it only for himself, trying to show the viewer something personal, intimate and encrypted, and maybe even convince himself of something. Too "cardboard" and straightforward characters. Too few details. Hence the negative assessment, with a quite high rate.
5 out of 10