The Beautiful Days of Aranjuez
The Beautiful Days of Aranjuez

Movie spotlight

The Beautiful Days of Aranjuez

2016
Movie
97 min
French

A man and a woman share their musings on love and freedom one summer night. The couple’s conversation meanders through memories, unspoken desires and passion through poetic dialogue.

Insights

IMDb5.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes45%
Metacritic48/100
Google Users65%
Director: Wim WendersGenres: Drama, Romance, Filmmaking

Plot Summary

A filmmaker observes a writer reflecting on a past summer romance in Aranjuez, Spain. The writer recounts a series of memories and philosophical musings about love, memory, and the nature of existence, interspersed with scenes of the writer and his muse in dialogue. The film blurs the lines between reality and imagination as it explores the intimate connection between two souls.

Critical Reception

The Beautiful Days of Aranjuez received a mixed to lukewarm reception from critics. While some praised its artistic ambition, lyrical visuals, and philosophical depth, many found it to be too ponderous, self-indulgent, and lacking in narrative drive. The performances were generally acknowledged as strong, but the film's slow pace and abstract nature proved divisive.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its beautiful cinematography and contemplative mood.

  • Criticized for its slow pacing and lack of a clear narrative arc.

  • Appreciated for its exploration of love, memory, and existential themes.

Google audience: Google users seem to appreciate the film's artistic qualities and thoughtful exploration of relationships and memory. However, some viewers found the dialogue to be overly philosophical or the pacing to be too slow for their enjoyment.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the play "Les Nuits de la Lune" by Peter Handke, with whom director Wim Wenders had previously collaborated on "Wings of Desire."

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