"Isaac" is a 2020 gay film based on the stage play "El día que nació Isaac" (The Day Isaac was Born) by Antonio Hernández Centeno. The story follows the lives of two long-separated childhood friends, Nacho and Denis, who reconnect in Barcelona after 16 years of silence. Despite their time apart, there's an unmistakable, unspoken sexual attraction between them. Flashbacks to their youthful days reveal the closeness they once shared with their friend Isaac, who is now absent from their lives.
Isaac (2020)
“Issac” presents a complex and morally challenging premise, rich with narrative possibilities. It delves into the desires for family and parenthood while exploring the complexities of human relationships. The film takes the audience on a journey through the lives of its characters, each of whom grapples with their own ambitions and desires.
Despite the potential for an engaging narrative, the film’s co-writer-directors, Ángeles Hernández and David Matamoros, opt for a static visual approach, allowing the actors to carry the scenes as if they were on stage. The film’s flat presentation, however, lacks the dynamism and creativity that could have enhanced the storytelling.
Isaac (2020) Exploring Desire, Parenthood, and Complex Relationships
“Isaac,” a 2020 film directed by Ángeles Hernández and David Matamoros, revisits the story of two childhood friends, Nacho and Denis, who reunite in Barcelona after 16 years of silence. This Spanish melodrama takes audiences on a journey through their intertwined lives, exploring themes of desire, parenthood, and complex relationships, while delving into the regrets and unspoken desires that have shaped their adult lives.
At the heart of the film is a knotty premise, where the characters grapple with a web of moral quandaries and ambitions. Nacho, a reserved lawyer portrayed by Pepe Ocio, and Denis, an aspiring chef played by Iván Sánchez, find themselves in need of something the other can provide. Nacho and his wife Marta, portrayed by the compelling Maria Ribera, desperately yearn for a child but have faced infertility issues. Denis, on the other hand, seeks a loan to fulfill his dream of opening a restaurant, while his girlfriend Carmen, played by Erika Bleda, is cautiously considering a significant commitment – becoming the surrogate mother for Nacho and Marta.
The film is pregnant with narrative possibilities, offering a poignant exploration of the human condition. However, the approach taken by the co-writer-directors is where “Isaac” both shines and stumbles. While the narrative is emotionally charged and rife with complexity, the visual presentation often remains static, as if observing a stage play. It’s a deliberate choice that may resonate with some viewers but can also leave others craving a more dynamic cinematic experience.
Among the lead quartet, Maria Ribera’s Marta stands out as the most compelling character, portrayed with steely determination and vulnerability, making her a character of depth and intrigue. Erika Bleda shines in portraying Carmen’s reasoned reticence about her role in the surrogate pregnancy, adding layers to the character.
While the film explores themes of same-sex attraction and unspoken desires, it’s Pepe Ocio’s performance as Nacho that struggles to fully engage the audience. Nacho’s journey, which ostensibly revolves around getting everything he’s always wanted, falls somewhat flat, as his portrayal comes across as more posed than persuasive.
In “Isaac,” the juxtaposition of past and present, the regrets that haunt the characters, and the desire for a different, more honest youth are at the core of the narrative. The film’s melancholic tone, while at times beautifully expressed in compositions, may leave the audience with a sense of introspection and reflection. It’s a film that raises important questions about the forces that shape our lives and the unspoken emotions that can define our paths.
Keywords: Isaac (2020), Spanish melodrama, complex relationships, desire, parenthood, surrogacy, same-sex attraction, film review, character dynamics, narrative possibilities, gay film
