GENESIS

The happiness of a loving couple is destroyed when she dies in a car accident. The partner, broken by grief, devotes himself body and soul to his sculpting activity, creating a statue in the likeness of his beloved. Upon completion of the work, a shocking transformation will strike the two lovers: the sculpture will begin to bleed and scales of dust will appear on the man. With "Genesis", Cerdà closes the cycle of the "Trilogy of Death", begun with the suggestive "The Awakening" and followed by the harsh "Aftermath". After addressing the mystery of death from a spiritual and material perspective, the Spanish director stages the emotional approach to the end of the existence of the loved one. Multi-awarded as best short film and best direction at various festivals around the world, the film benefits from an overwhelming and fluid artistic direction, pure ecstasy for the eyes of the viewer. An ethereal and crystalline photography frames images that, in concert with the direction and in absolute harmony with the usual classical sounds, seem to dance in a melancholic and nostalgic atmosphere. Pep Tosar, once again the protagonist, gives further proof of his skill and expressive ability, managing to touch the deepest chords of the human soul without uttering a word. Fate has brutally torn away from the man the most important affection of his life, leaving him in a deep state of solitude and suffering. The loss of his beloved upsets his existence, and to placate the enormous sense of emptiness and alleviate his pains, the man dedicates himself to creating a sculpture with the features of the woman, yielding to the unconscious desire to bring her back to life in it. There is no room for resignation; the idea of accepting such a great loss seems inconceivable. Obsession and the annihilation of his identity tragically take over. The statue seems to absorb the vitality of the sculptor, who often and willingly abandons himself to moments of heart-wrenching despair. Drama and pain tinge with black what is essentially a love story, but not only. Rebirth is the key to interpretation, the core of the extreme sacrifice that knows no limits in the face of despair and love. Cerdà showcases all his creative talent in this work, yielding to an effective and highly impactful stylistic search: each shot is a work of art, imbued with grace and elegance. The care of aesthetics is maniacal; every detail exudes a heart-wrenching and leaden beauty. An extremely moving, poetic, genuine vision that exploits a sophisticated and high-level cinematic language. Despite the film being devoid of dialogue, entirely set in a single location with a single protagonist, the director's message comes through loud and clear. "Genesis" is a superb work that strikes the heart and hurts, deep in substance and perfect in form, the worthy conclusion to the long and macabre journey through the paths of death.