jasha89 La isla minima is a Spanish movie directed by Alberto Rodriguez. The simplest way to describe the plot is to say that we follow two detectives trying to solve a case in a small town in 1980. First of all, this movie looks fantastic. I really appreciated the cinematography and use of color pallets in order to show the desperate atmosphere that is present throughout the movie. Bleak, yellowish colors remind me of Villneuve's Enemy from 2013 which I also regard as a masterpiece, both visually and narratively. All the performances are amazing, but the strongest link is definitely Javier Gutierrez as a impulsive, high tempered and intelligent detective that steals the whole show. The entire movie is unpredictable which is a top priority for every crime flick. I would highly recommend it! from me - 8/10

jcnsoflorida Arguably, a masterpiece. Hung on a clichéd story of 2 teen sisters murdered, and 2 detectives look for whodunit. It plays out slowly but the texture is stunningly vivid. Superb photography, memorable acting, music that asks questions, simmering political undertones. Suffice it to say there's a helluva lot going on in this picture and the more you know about Spain the more you'll know. But how knowable is Spain? As I said, this is slow for a thriller but there is existential mystery and tension. The crime may be solved, so future murders won't happen, maybe. But is there any other consequence? The similarity to True Detective season 1 is uncanny. TD was first broadcast in January 2014; Marshland was released in Spain in September 2014. Even if the latter is just a Spanish take on TD, I can see why it swept the 2015 Goyas (Spain's Oscar equivalent). It was made with Spain blood.

Jacobsnemesis Marshland is a beautiful thriller set in Andalucía, Spain. There is a fantastic dynamic between the two leading men, Juan and Pedro, played by Javier Gutiérrez and Raúl Arévalo respectively. But the main credit needs to go to Alex Catalán and Alberto Rodríguez for the fantastic cinematography and direction. The aerial shots in particular are truly stunning.The Franco legacy very much lingers throughout the film and this adds to the lingering tension and suspense that remains constant throughout. The story is a straightforward one but the look of the film will stay long in the memory.

mitsoskont-41374 La isla mínima (known as Marshland to the Anglophones) at the surface resembles countless other crime films and stories. Two cops with very different personalities are summoned to an unfamiliar place in order to solve a crime and in the process they uncover dark secrets that lie under the small community. What makes the difference in this film however is how the filmmakers make use of the setting. The movie takes place in Spain during the Spanish transition to democracy some years after Franco's death.The two protagonists represent the different stances and political backgrounds. Pedro is an uptight cop with democratic convictions eager for the extinction of fascism in his country who is partnered with Juan an experienced cop who in this movie acts as a representative of Franco's regime. The two of them are called to investigation two missing girls in the Spanish countryside and to put aside their political differences.As a whodunit Marshland is a gripping and suspenseful movie with fine cinematography and the central mystery even though kinda formulaic preserves the viewer's interest till the finale. But at the relationship between the two leads and how this resonates with the political landscape of the 1980's Spain is where the central core of this story resides. For example Pedro, as the investigation progresses, comes at terms with the undemocratic and violent methods of Juan and makes compromises with his beliefs in order to solve a case which will allow him to advance his career.All in all I highly recommend Marshland if you want to watch an entertaining and intelligent mystery which scathingly comments on a turbulent period of the Spanish history.