It’s 1980, the beginning of Spain’s troubled transition to democracy, but in remote Andalucía one village seems to be mired in the past. When a mismatched pair of Madrid-dwelling homicide detectives arrive to solve the murder of two young, beautiful sisters, tension arises not only from their frustrated hunt for the killer, but also from the contrast between them.
While Pedro (Raúl Arévalo) approaches the case thoughtfully and is unable to bear the sight of a dead body, Juan (Javier Gutiérrez) is of a different creed and is quick to drink, to suspect and to forcibly coerce information from anyone he believes may harbour secrets. And yet the longer they spend in the eponymous marshlands which surround the village from which the girls disappeared, the more their personalities begin to bleed into one another and blend like watercolours.
Rodríguez’s noir thriller is captivating from its very opening: the sinister minimalistic soundtrack, the heavy claustrophobic atmosphere that buzzes with the sound of cicadas, the stunning aerial cinematography which pans above the visceral and vein-like streams that permeate the marshlands. Its unhurried pace does nothing to assuage the suspense and you end up trying to decode every hint the camera lingers on, every look that the characters exchange. Add to this the prerequisite red herrings, double crossing and false friends with adrenaline-laced car chases by night, and the mixture becomes heady and intoxicating.
The film also functions seamlessly on an allegorical level: the two detectives represent two different incarnations of the same country, one democratic and one authoritarian, and this metaphor is complimented by subtle clues – a crucifix on the wall adorned with photos of fascist leaders, a labourers’ strikes and protests about fair pay – an insistent reminder that in 1980 the shadow of Franco’s violent dictatorship would continue to hang over the country for many years to come. The transition was by no means quick or painless, and Marshland explores this beautifully and carefully within a wide historical context, with references to the military’s power, the misogyny of the era, and the irreconcilably opposing political views of Spain’s people.
Marshland was released in UK cinemas on 7 August 2015.
