-Written by Michelle Vorob.
You Have to Come and See It is a short film by Jonas Trueba about two couples (four friends) who get together after not seeing each other for a while.
Filmed shortly after the end of Covid lockdown, You Have to Come and See It begins with pianist Chano Dominguez performing at a bar in Madrid. This is where we first see our group of friends. Initially, we watch each of them as individuals, as they watch the pianist. I thought I might be bored, but then I realized this is how I often feel going out somewhere; half entertained, half bored. You Have to Come and See It is an effective slice-of-life film. You jump into these people's lives at a certain point and just live it with them for a while. It isn't about a crisis, a car chase, or an alien attack; just people reconnecting after time away from each other.
Elena (Itsaso Arana) and Daniel (Vito Sanz) still live in the city, while Susana (Irene Escolar) and Guillermo (Francesco Carril) have moved out to the countryside. They love the slower pace of life out there and love their new home. Throughout the night, they reiterate a few times, “You Have to Come and See It,” referring to their new home.
The interaction is utterly natural. Fun moments, boring moments, chit-chat, good conversation. They end the night with the promise of getting together again, next time at Susana and Guillermo's house.
With a film such as this, in which the content is all the little things that make up life, I hesitate to give the detail I tend to, because in this case, the details are essentially what You Have to Come and See It is. For example, there's a scene, utterly relatable, in which Elena and Daniel are at the country train station, trying to figure out where to go, in order to meet up with Guillermo. The whole film is like this; snippets of daily life.
Well, the time finally comes that Elena and Daniel have arrived at Susana and Guillermo's house. A lovely afternoon, filled with both chit-chat and significant conversation. Elena has been reading You Must Change Your Life, by Peter Sloterdijk, which she brings to the table as part of the discussion. Fitting, when the entirety of You Have to Come and See It explores the meaning of life in all the little things we do daily, our relationships with others and how conversations with friends and loved ones can sometimes become a discussion about the meaning of life, big and small, in one way or another.
In true philosophical fashion, You Have to Come and See It goes meta at the end and breaks the fourth wall by merging with real life behind the scenes footage of the actors and crew, as these people are, in reality, spending their time making a film. You Have to Come and See It is an interesting thought exercise and a pleasant slice-of-life film.
Written and Directed by Jonas Trueba.
Starring Itsaso Arana, Vito Sanz, Francesco Carril, Irene Escolar, Chano Dominguez, etc.
8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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