Magical Girl (2014) User Reviews

Fascinating and disturbing multi-layered experience

[mutanteradiante · 8/10 · 25 November 2014]

(No spoilers in this review, but a couple of ideas who try to illustrate why I've liked this film) Well, despite the fact that many scenes on this film are quite disturbing, viewers could enjoy a demanding and appealing work from Carlos Vermut.

And this is the kind of movie who would let you quite astonished for many reasons. One of these is revealed when you check how violent a scene could be not showing any graphic violence at all, thanks to a wonderful script who works very, very well throughout all the film: this is, indeed, a basic part in Magical Girl, a script designed as a precise swiss machinery. It even works great on many parts who requires a little suspension of disbelief from the part of the viewer. But once you're inside, you remain there.

Magical Girl's power reside on the high complex (but also extremely fluid) multi-layered and interconnected scenes. Quite similar as in Pulp Fiction film (by the way... it would be great to know Tarantino's opinion about Magical Girl).

Also, as it happens on real life, you could witness the huge impact that a "butterfly effect" could provoke. This is very well shown on the film, and it would remain long time on many viewers thoughts.

I really want to know what would be next director's projects, I'm sure that he's going to tune his skills, offering us an interesting filmography.

Go watch it, Magical girl is a well crafted artifact. But beware, as it's NOT intended for young audiences, but adult ones.

A magical story told in allegorical manner- Complex and Thought Provoking

[ajit2106 · 7/10 · 23 March 2015]

This film begins as a fairly common story, a story that in times of crisis anyone can feel absolutely identified. Luis is an unemployed literature professor who is barely able to make his end meet. He wants to fulfill the last wish of his 12-year-old daughter Alicia, patient of terminal cancer. Alicia wants an expensive dress of Japanese cartoon series "Magical Girl Yukiko". On the other hand, the film introduces us to Barbara, a young woman who suffers from mental disorders and Damian a retired teacher doing time in jail.

Three people in extreme conditions seem to move in a parallel universe where violence and pain dominate, but in a poetic way. In the universe of Vermouth, everyone is guilty and everyone is innocent. Magical Girl talks about violence and sadness using the rules of a film noir, with many subtle references of Japanese cinema.

It would be easy to fill pages and pages about the virtues of "Magical Girl", but it is a little complicated to do without uncovering some of the many surprises of the film. Because in reality, it is much more than a story where lives intersect and the storm broke. It is a framework where the details are taken care to detail. The music appears only when it is needed.

Jose Sacristan, Barbara Lennie and Luis Bermejo not need more than one scene to explain the most accurate descriptions of screenplay. Lucia Pollan, a revelation, it is amazing to see her purity and innocence overshadowed by the situation.

What is bad, however, is that all these mixed ingredients in the same bowl can roll back to a kind of niche audience more accustomed to these kinds of films. As for the end, it is open to many interpretations, which can leave the viewer confused, but will give us the opportunity to look, to find our own explanation to what is happening.

Magical Girl talks about violence and sadness using the rules of a film noir, with many subtle references of Japanese cinema.

Strange as well as interesting film about a father attempts to get an expensive dress for his ill daughter

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 17 June 2015]

This San Sebastian winner Magical Girl was well played and compellingly directed by Carlos Vermut . It's not hard to recognize tales that have been reverse-engineered , those that fashion individual roles and contrive to bring those disparate souls together in the most convenient way possible . Far more weird is the story that begins from a center and organically evolves , unwittingly capturing its ancillary players . Carlos Vermut's "Magical Girl" certainly feels like the latter , developing sad events by means of an intriguing as well as thought-provoking atmosphere . It stars with Luis Bermejo and Barbara Lennie ; star Jose Sacristan also top-lines . The impetus for all of this intrigue is a sudden hospital visit for Alicia (Alicia Pollan) , a 12-year-old girl living with leukemia and she dreams to have a dress of a famous Japanese series : Magical Girl , Yukiro . Her father Luis (Luis Bermejo) learns that Alicia is terminal (a detail never explicitly stated but delivered in the first clear example that Vermut is in complete control of his story) . After Alicia is released , he stumbles across Alicia's diary, discovering her wish to own a dress identical to one worn by her favorite anime star . When the price tag results out to be far beyond his dwindling savings , the daddy attempts to get it at whatever means . Because of this last wish he will meet a disturbed girl (Barbara Lennie) and a retired school professor (Jose Sacristan) .

'Magical Girl' is a razor-sharp flick of unintended consequences . This is an interesting film , it is both an asset and a weakness of Spanish director Carlos Vermut's sophomore feature , an elaborately contrived, imagination-dependent dark comedy/drama that operates through sleight of hand , misleading into following a preteen leukemia patient's dying wish while it assembles another , far more sinister secondary narrative deep in its viewers' collective subconscious . The picture relies heavily between relation between an obstinate dad and his daughter with terminal cancer , both of whom weaving their troubled lives together with ample sorrow . Rare flick , its has a few gaps and is slow moving , but anyway, it is compensated with the great performances . Good acting from Luis Bermejo as unfortunate father of an ill girl tries to obtain her daughter last wish , to get the dress of the main character of a Japanese TV series and Barbara Lennie gives a splendid portrayal of a emotionally affecting young woman . Special mention for Jose Sacristan , a veteran actor who was born in 1937 , Chinchón, Madrid . He is an magnificent actor and occasionally director, especially known for Un Lugar en Mundo (1992), Éste Es Mi barrio (1996) and El Viaje a Ninguna Parte (1986). He is married to also actress Leonor Benedetto. Other important films he performed are the followings : Un Hombre Llamado Flor de Otoño , Niñas.. Al Salón , Reina Zanahoria , Acto Posesión , Asignatura Pendiente , Hasta Matrimonio Nos Separe and Parranda . In addition , Sacristan directed three acceptable films : 1977 Yo Bajo en la Próxima, ¿y Usted? , 1987 Cara Acelga and 1983 Soldados De Plomo .

Confirming the emergence of an original voice able to reflect on the impact of Spain's crisis while constructing scenes of a near Tarantino-esque tension, "Magical Girl" nabbed seven Goya Noms . However , Alberto Rodriguez's thriller Marshland was the clear winner at the 29th Goya Awards, Daniel Monzon's El Nino, which had been nominated in 16 categories, won four technical awards, while Carlos Vermut's Magical Girl only landed the top actress for Barbara Lennie's portrayal of a emotionally fragile woman . Besides , this deliberately "wrong" cult offering (which won prizes for best film and director at San Sebastian . The motion picture was originally directed by Carlos Vermut . Vermut comes to cinema from a background in comic-book illustration, and though he brings a strong visual sense to his big screen work , including his low-budget debut, "Diamond Flash" , though he previously made some successful Shorts .

Disturbing

[Red_Identity · 3 September 2018]

It's hard to know where this entire film will lead to, but where it does is ultimately dark and disturbing. It's a psychological ride.

Good movie with a lot of convenience and edge.

[robobobotic-31291 · 6/10 · 17 November 2017]

Magical Girl is a very well shot movie. The cinematography is brilliant and overall nothing of the visuals is a problem.

The biggest problem with this movie is how convenient everything is. I get that Louis as a father would actually fulfill the wish of his daughter, Its not that dis-believable. But the lengths he goes to achieve it. can be questionable. But that's not really the problem I have with this movie.

Barbara's illness for which she takes medications for was never explored. While you can try to make the excuse that "It's left for interpretation" (which YMS did on youtube), Its not really an excuse because you are literally implying that I should guess what's wrong with her. This is not how you make me care for a character. Why does she have these scars on her body? Never explained. While I find it convincing that she would help Luise once, I find it hard to believe that she will go to such lengths, in his second "favour" with the 20k euros (which I honestly find It too convenient that just an accessory would be that much more than the costume itself). It doesn't make sense. Like she's literally risking her life and screwing it up as a whole, just so she can remain with her husband. It just doesn't make sense to me. It seems like a complete convenience for this edgy plot that this movie Is going with. Not to mention "THE DOOR" ritual thing (which just literally came out of no where.).

Now for the 3d act. After Barbara is completely screwed up and her life destroyed, due to her own ridiculous decisions (lets remember that she decided to sleep with Luis. Lets not pretend that didn't happen.). She all of a sudden wants revenge now.

OK, the part that really made me mad and just seriously made me hate this movie is the scene in the cafe with Damian and Luis. So you are telling me, that when Damian threatened Luis with the gun, Luis will just decide to respond with "Bitch"? Are you serious? Like, they literally had the whole time in the world in that cafe to discuss what exactly happened. This is what really made me really angry. He presented that whole phone blackmailing, in really the most conveniently horrible way possible. It doesn't make sense for me, that this would happen, when the guy is clearly smart enough to not throw his life like this.

So, this is how I feel about this movie. For me Its a really "edgy" and It hides its convenient plot in its "deepness".

Beautiful in every way.

[noahgibbobaker · 9/10 · 9 November 2020]

Magical girl follows three people who each lead drastically different lives. Yet their fates are all determined by one and other. The way all of the stories told interweave with each other feels so natural which is no easy feat.

This is down to the brilliant screenplay and realistic nature of the events that take place. I would believe it if these events took place. Some of it could seem a bit extreme, particularly with Barbara's story, but I didn't feel it was too over the top at any moment.

Technically magical girl is also brilliant. The cinematography was beautiful and Stationary shots are almost exclusively used which worked like a treat. The framing and shot composition we're absolutely great as well.

Themes of Selfishness and humanity are conveyed thoughtfully and in a way that, again, felt very real. I loved seeing how one person's selfish actions can affect so many others in truly hideous ways.

I think the thing that makes magical girl so great is the fact it treats the audience with respect. Quite a lot of left up to interpretation which works to great effect, if certain things were shown they wouldn't seem so revolting and disturbing.

Just a couple more points I want to make. The acting is all fantastic, Lucia Pollan gives one of the greatest child performances I've ever seen. And the reincorporation doesn't feel unnecessary and it makes for an excellent emotional moment.

I urge everyone reading this to watch magical girl. Even if you don't love the stories being told you can't deny the technical brilliance. I can not wait to watch this film again.

A movie that strongly impacts the emotion

[teamyordle23 · 7/10 · 24 August 2016]

This is my first review, it'll be quick and to the point.

There has never been a movie that has changed my emotion and played with my mind and I congratulate the director/writer "Carlos Vermunt" for doing so.

First of all the thing I really love about this movie is how almost every scene is empty in terms of colors. Almost every wall, clothes, and lighting is sort of pale which gives the movie a sort of dark/empty feel to it.

Nothing could have prepared me for this movie, emotionally speaking.I give this a 7 due to my personal feelings of the climax, you may love it or you may hate it based on how it all ends. Needless to say, this movie is art.

An awesome, creative, and tightly written experience

[GelatinousJoe · 8/10 · 13 August 2016]

The plot is, a father trying to fulfill his daughter with terminal cancer's last wish of a "Magical Girl" costume crashes into the lives of a disturbed girl and a retired professor.

Magical Girl is written and directed by Carlos Vermut and (in a Pulp Fiction style) focuses on three stories and characters that are all equally understandable and fascinating. The story is definitely the core of Magical Girl. It is one that subverts expectation. It can make you laugh, cry, or feel disturbed, and all while being a perfect whole. It is also one that makes for an equally great rewatch. There are dozens of details scattered in the movie that can only make sense on a second viewing. Sometimes, these details can even change the context of a previous scene.

The acting and camera-work are good without being too exceptional, but the way they work with the unfolding events can make them much more effective. And the movie never feels constrained by its budget in any way. The song choices are not only great and incredibly memorable, but they also have an important role in the story.

Magical Girl is one of the most unappreciated gems of 2014. It is entertaining, emotionally powerful, unique, and intelligent at the same time. It takes very little to get invested, and you will be on the edge of your seat. I adore this film and would highly recommend Magical Girl, it is a must-see.

A solid, bleak story.

[brianberta · 7/10 · 19 February 2022]

While the direction of this film was too cold and distant to resonate with me as much as it could've, I still enjoyed enough about it to give it a recommendation. For one, I enjoyed Barbara as the emotional core. Most films would have her start off in good health and have her mental health decline more and more throughout the film. In this film though, she was already unstable and Luis's behavior made her go from bad to worse. For instance, after she intentionally cuts her head on a mirror, Javier comments on it being another scar and later in the film when she's asked to disrobe, we see that her body is full of scars. Given those scenes, it's clear she had been suffering long before she encountered Luis. While Luis's control over Barbara is quite apparent though, Javier, her husband, is guilty of this as well. His monitoring of whether she takes her pills starts out as seemingly innocuous. The more he escalates though, the more paranoid he seems (a scene where he feels inside her mouth to make sure she swallowed a pill is super uncomfortable to watch). Another interesting thing about the film is the struggle which several characters face at finding closure or satisfaction. To list examples of this theme would involve spoiling major parts of the film, but that extensions of it pop up in smaller moments, like Luis missing an important radio broadcast from his daughter, or some unexplainable moments, like the final scene, is quite impressive. As mentioned at the start, the coldness of this film kept me from loving it, but while I'm not sure I'll revisit it again, I did enjoy my time with it.

Delusions Become Real

[Blue-Grotto · 9/10 · 26 November 2017]

Obsession and desperation lead disparate characters to commit heinous acts in this dark, thrilling, quirky and Almodovorish tale. A father infatuated with purchasing a $15,000 "magical girl" dress for his cancer stricken daughter, a rigid, forceful teacher with a secret and simplistic weakness at being mocked, and a rich, sensitive, impulsive and unstable young woman who takes almost any kind of pain so long as she maintains her facade and knows of someone more miserable than herself, are each transformed by their obsessions into abusive creatures incapable of empathy.

Passions and fears float like ghosts in the recesses of each character's mind until delusions become more real to them than a simple fact or equation like "two plus two equals four." It is as if each character reaches a magical realm or gains a super power of their own choosing, where they may stay insulated from the world and those around them. Their isolation and avarice is emblematic of what is happening in Spain. Simple acts of kindness, fairness and empathy that could do a world of good for people are withheld for fear of some contagion. This thriller is, as I love, loaded with depth, metaphors and significance. The story line, acting and orchestration are exceptional for such a minimal budget. I only wish it had more support and funding. Four and a half of five stars. Seen at the Miami International Film Festival.

Incredibly powerful film

[hschreiner-69874 · 9/10 · 28 April 2019]

Hard to put this one into words. Just watch it. Incredibly complex and beautiful. Feels like i just ran a 10K marathon.

Unbalanced and illogical all over, apparently hoping that feel-good aspects of story let us overlook all its faults. It did not jerk any of my tears

[JvH48 · 4/10 · 11 May 2015]

Saw this at the Rotterdam film festival 2015 (IFFR). In short: Unbalanced and illogical all over. Apparently hoping that the feel-good aspects of the story let us overlook all its faults. Anyway, It did not jerk any of my tears.

The narrative left more than a few uncharted fields, and focused on other things that I deem mere side-ways. Important aspects of the underlying drama are not revealed to us, like why Barbara's past is so scary for Damian, and what her "psychological" issues exactly were (quote from IFFR website) or why she is a "disturbed girl" (quote from IMDb). The magical trick we see in school, in one of the openings scenes, is not enough to connect the dots later on. Similarly unclarified, we see how Damian reacts on Barbara's phone call, but leaving his defiant attitude devoid of any explanation. He seems just scared for unknown reasons. And near the finale, after learning how Barbara and the girl's father met and (!) that he stayed overnight, he freaks out, even to the extent that his attitude towards the father turns 180 degrees, all of that still for reasons unknown.

That the father goes at any length to fulfill his ailing daughter's last wish, may be understandable as this is what parents do. But what we see happening here is certainly over-the-top. He does not even make an attempt to verify whether her wish still exists, as this could have been a short-lived dream from years ago. I admit that I'm trying to be rational here, but I never was a father, so what do I know.

Finally, I am prepared to overlook how very coincidental our three protagonists meet each other. It is convoluted, but it could have happened this way, including the loose piece of the jigsaw puzzle lying on the street. On the other hand, the time devoted to all these side-ways would have been better spent on extra background information on the three. The synopsis on the festival website was a required read, yet insufficient to grasp all of the drama that enfolds in two hours time. We are withheld from being pulled in by the story, and also are being prevented from identifying ourselves with either one of the main characters, not even with the father who would be the obvious candidate for our sympathy.

Polarizing Experience

[jonerez · 8/10 · 21 March 2020]

Magical Girl was a very interesting film. I went to the movie with the idea of looking at a cold drama, and was very surprised to see things take a completely different turn and keep me at the edge of my seat. (Not getting much into details so you check it out!)

For one, I loved the plot. While a good chunk of the exposition is clearly set, we only get the stories and motivations we need to keep the action going. I found that extremely refreshing, specially for Barbara Lennie's character. I can understand that might ruin the movie for some people craving for a closed narration, but to me It's kinda brilliant and much more intriguing and suspenseful to follow the rest of the characters as they are right now without flashbacks or dream sequences to guide the audience through history lane.

The Cinematography was neat, all actors were competent, and apart from an unnecessary monologue on why bullfighting represents the spirit of Spain, Most scenes where well constructed and intriguing.

Overall I loved this, and I honestly would have given 9 stars if leuchemia girl had more fun inappropriate things to do than asking for gin-tonics and cigarrettes. She is the only sane person there and our titular girl, goddamit!

Strange and Weird

[kumamonkuma · 8/10 · 29 November 2022]

This movie is so strange and weird.

The story began from two girls, one has terminal childhood cancer, another used to be the girl, but now she was glowing and get married with annoying man actually he was dominant person.

For example the guests was invited to have a dinner he was angry about the topic his wife had talked during a dinner.

Just This episode you would realize his heart is so small.

Actually his wife's life is so miserable.

Back to the the first girl, she likes watching Japanese anime especially magical girl's one.

Her father always cares about her and want to do something for pleased for her until her death.

But things getting worse, he lost his job and his daughter's disease was never getting better.

He was walking a street alone in desperation at night, so he was hung the puke from second floor.

The puke woman is just the girl that has annoying husband.

They met fatefully.

But this encounter is the beginning of tragedy.

Wow. Disturbing, Original, Work of Art

[Megan_Shida · 9/10 · 26 March 2020]

I am so glad I stumbled onto this film! I'm one of those film people who are deeply skeptical that a good noir can still be done but this is absolutely it. Imagine if Bunuel or Aronofsky tried their hand at the genre, and that's a little bit of what you'll get here. A deeply rich, taut, psychological tale of torture, deception, and, ultimately, the desperation that lies at the heart of each human being. Carlos Vermut deserves much kudos for this film that is so well written and well acted by the three leads. Amazing movie and will be much appreciated by those who appreciate film!

a very disturbing film

[lu-zhi-hao · 1/10 · 26 August 2015]

a word to summarize this film is disturbing

making a film is telling a story, and preferably a complete story. however, the director failed to do so. There are many clues appeared such as the missing puzzle accidentally picked up by Luis, the unfinished letter in the radio, the room in Olive's house and the trick in the beginning and in the end of the film. The director did not connect the dots and make the story more interesting even though i do agree his way of keeping the mysterious part of the movie and make it suspending.

As to the plot, I find it very illogical. For instance, an unemployed father could only resort to this extreme measure to obtain his daughter's last wish? he could just hired a couture to make a similar dress. and why the man suddenly became furious upon hearing Pedro saying Nina wanted to sleep with him.

Ludicrous girl

[tenshi_ippikiookami · 1/10 · 8 January 2016]

Horrible girl, ill-advised girl, disturbing girl... Anything but magical.

"Magical girl" has an easily understood plot, which still makes not much sense, because everything is symbolic and with various layers. Which makes the story, quite disturbing to start with, think of itself in a too highly way.

It all goes about a young girl, who is sick, and who would like to have a dress from an anime, a Japanese animation series. Her father, decides to do whatever, but whatever, to get her the dress.

That everyone in this movie has some kind of mental problem, or is in mental pain, is quite obvious. The young girl is probably the sanest in all the story. Too bad we are all the time with the creepy father, a young woman with a dark past, who has a very controlling and creepy husband, and a creepy old teacher of her who has just been released from prison. All characters are quite creepy. And this without taking into account the constant hammering of symbols, which also have a strange patriotic tinge to it (bullfighting to justify that Spaniards are not like the Nordic people but neither like Italians or Latinos?; the very Spanish music or the TV playing a Spanish selection match...).

So, the movie seems to say that people in pain or who see people in pain may do crazy things. It could also be about the sick girl and everything be about her illness. Or about the young woman and the very sick life she has had till that moment (and all the "nice" men that surround her). In the end, magic is conspicuous by its absence, but creepiness overstays its welcome, as the movie is two hours long.

Waste of talents with a distasteful story

[beastangel21 · 2/10 · 2 April 2023]

I got it, cinematography was really something in this movie. The thing I hate is, this could be a shorty movie and it would be really on point. More than half of the movie was characters walking, looking at something or thinking. This does not give us any reasoning or any emotion at all. Still all the actors and actresses were talented and gave all kind of ideas what they meant. There was no issues with any of their way of playing. Colours, scenes and changing of the places were really giving the vibe they meant, I congratulate the team behind it. Still a half an hour or 45 minutes movie would give the same effect.