THE AWAKENING

A boy falls asleep during a class. When he wakes up, time around him has stopped: his classmates are motionless, the doors are locked. When the clock hands finally start moving, the young man, as if he had left his own body, will see himself lying on the floor, helpless, while the teacher will try in vain to revive him. First short film by the Spanish director, known to fans of underground horror for his "Trilogy of Death," an excellent work that includes, in addition to "The Awakening," the two cult films "Aftermath" (1994) and "Genesis" (1998). The three films are united by the theme of death that Cerdà addresses in different ways, brilliantly moving from shocking movies to romantic drama but always providing interesting food for thought. This short film, lasting just 8 minutes, introduces us in some way to the director's major works, showing us his orientation and potential. Shoot entirely in black and white, the film is devoid of dialogue but features a suggestive soundtrack built on a sonic carpet that blends into minimal ambient music. The music therefore plays a fundamental role and perfectly complements the unexplained events that occur in the classroom. What is there after death? Cerdà addresses the mystery that has always accompanied man, staging the possible steps that precede and follow the tragic event. Inspired by the numerous testimonies of subjects who claim to have experienced a near-death experience, the director exploits a situation often associated with it, namely the astral journey, at the end of which the protagonist will become aware of his new condition and will abandon his body forever. The boy, disoriented and shocked, explores a new dimension where time has stopped: disturbing are the sequences of motionless classmates, the clock with the hands locked, the closed doors. The character of the teacher is also played by Cerdà himself, who was very young at the time. Rough and made with few resources, "The Awakening" is appreciated for the intensity and originality of the subject; the short running time leaves no room for explanations or a complete evolution of the plot but casts shadows and doubts on a theme as fascinating as it is mysterious. A small gem to be savored, an innocuous prelude to two much more extreme and disturbing works. If you are interested in the "Trilogy of Death" I recommend watching the films in chronological order, for a better understanding of the director's conceptual metaphor.