Mexican filmmaker Michel Franco returns to the coastal city he visited as a boy in this outstanding new feature led by Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Set in Acapulco, Sundown is dark comic, laugh out loud hilarious with twists and turns littered throughout its brief 80-something minute run time.
Here, Roth and Gainsbourg star as Neil and Alice, a pair on holiday with two teenagers Alexa (Albertine Kotting McMillan) and Colin (Samuel Bottomley) At first, you think they are the perfect family, lounging in their confined tropical paradise, but there is so much lurking amongst them in the sun-kissed palm trees, gorgeous pools and tranquil setting of a five star plus hotel. Some mild spoilers ahead.
It looks at first that Neil and Alice are husband and wife – their behaviour with one another offering little to suggest anything otherwise – but in fact, they are brother and sister, a coin that didn’t drop immediately for me – which is obviously the film’s intention. They are both wealthy too, heirs to their family’s vast slaughterhouse operation back in the UK. Their trip away together comes to an abrupt end, though when Alice gets a phone call from their lawyer back home that a family member is sick and they must return immediately. They book on the next – first class (naturally) – flight out of Mexico only for Neil to proclaim, when he gets to the airport, that he has forgotten his passport. Leaving them to board the plane, Neil returns to town, booking himself into a more budget hotel recommended by his taxi driver.
Of course, he has his passport and soon he finds himself hooking up with a local bodega worker (Iazua Larios) and starts an immediate romance, his phone, all the while, constantly beeping and ringing with this family back home wondering of his whereabouts and intentions of sorting a replacement travel document so that he can help with matters back in London.
This all happens within the first 15 minutes of this excellent comedy/ drama. Although I’ve mentioned a lot, Franco’s film has tons more surprises lurking around each corner, the narrative shifting in directions one couldn’t have imagined going in. Roth portrays Neil brilliantly, most of his performance without dialogue, the wealthy traveller quiet and unassuming and you’re constantly wondering his motives throughout the feature. Gainsbourg is also great as Alice, the more level-headed, stronger sibling struggling to relax on vacation and when things go south, keen to iron out any issues immediately.
As well as being brilliantly baffling and very, very, funny, Sundown is a film that sticks with you for ages after the credits roll. There’s a lot to identify with with the seemingly far-fetched antics on screen all so realistically portrayed, and weirdly, totally relatable.
Absolutely one of the most enjoyable and best films of the year.
Sundown
Summary
One of Franco’s best movies and Roth is at a near career-best as Neil, the unassuming traveller trying to find his place in the world.
