Few Spanish films recently have made so much blood lately with the very essence of Lo Spanish as 'Los del tunel' . And it is already known that it is a sign of indisputable class to know how to laugh at oneself. The viewers seemed to understand this, showing a healthy sense of humor, and turned it into a notable blockbuster. All of the hand toasting for laughter ... in a film with almost melodramatic background.
Or perhaps not so much, one could think of taking into account that its responsible is Pepón Montero, who signs the script with Juan Maidagán. The latter was writing in 'Camera Café' reformulating the humor in pills with a series of lessons on rhythm, construction of gags and definition of characters that, seeing how the television landscape is now, fell a little on the sack.
Also the presence of two comedies like the most suitable Arturo Valls and Raúl Cimas, one of the most imposing and unclassifiable comic presences of our cinema, could make us think that we are facing a triumphant journey, a parody bursting with absurd humor. And yes, but no, because 'The tunnel' continues to rule the number one rule for comedy to matter and impact: endow humanity with the characters.
'The Tunnel' part of what could be first material for an action film with human background (there was: 'Panic in the tunnel') or for a survival drama with scabrous elements to 'Live!' (Whose cannibal mythology makes a wink). But here it starts where the rest of the stories cut : the rescue and confirmation of the relations of friendship, trust and romance that have been forged in misfortune.
Montero, with a cynicism that will no longer abandon the tone of the film, sets forth this starting-point-in-other-cases-would-be conclusion with general plans, triumphant music and an ostentatious crane to underline the epic of the situation. And then ... it returns us to what nobody counts, it returns to everyday life. What we are going to know is what this group of unfortunates has to live after the traumatic experience.
Y en la mayoría de los casos, muchos preferirían que un túnel se les desplomara encima: matrimonios tristes y en espiral, salidas del armario por compromiso, trabajos mediocres, existencias sin rumbo fijo, familias que no se entienden... todo ello está elevado a la enésima potencia en el personaje de Arturo Valls, un cuñao prototípico que bajo su coraza de autoconfianza extrema y abusiva esconde decenas de complejos y una vida gris.
Because when everyone says that the tunnel changed their lives, they mean exactly that: the time they were inside, isolated, for the first time in their lives were not overwhelmed by compromises mediocre and very day to day. These harsh words, which would give more than a fourth reflection on the meaning of life, form the background of 'The tunnel', and the film makes them swallow with the pill of cruel humor.
Frozen smile masters
'The tunnel' is clear in which mirror is looking. There has been talk of the black comedies of Berlanga, especially 'The Executioner' and 'Placid', but you do not have to go so far. Montero could have as referents underground masters of the evil comedy disguised as nonsense or absurd , as Santiago Lorenzo, Juan Cavestany or Borja Cobeaga bastard, that of the dark moments of 'Negotiator '.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE CHARACTERS BETWEEN THEM AND THEIR SURROUNDINGS IS THE STRONG POINT OF 'THE TUNNEL'
Of all of them the script takes a wise empathy with the characters, with whom it does not have pity and to the same one knows to understand: the policeman who needs to feel a hero, the parents who have failed with his daughter and do not know how. They all have a clumsy and overwhelmed relationship with their surroundings: of course, a tunnel that collapses surpasses them. But is that even something like a porn movie that should be spurred on boredom, becomes a hole of existential emptiness.
And although the tunnel's Los has certainly trunk moments, like the ridiculous running gag of Los Pecos, its greatest strength lies in the bitterness with which it describes a handful of people without purpose . Once they have drunk urine, dented ventilation ducts and jumped abysses, they only have the revelation of the false solidarity with the Good Alien to feel good and of the Whatsapp group.
This extraordinary balance would not exist without the millimeter of the gags and the excellent rhythm of aftershocks and interpretations (absolutely the whole cast is superb). It is that kind of detail, of directing of actors but mainly of realization and assembly, those that distant to the ones of the tunnel, with its sad and tired tempo, of recent comedies of greater impact like the saga of the Basque surnames or the Movies of Nacho García Velilla.
It is an excellent time to recover 'The Tunnel', now that he has just landed in Filmin. He remembers his excellent poster, already participant of the humor with mute of the film, with the slogan "They say that it is well" . The joke is great, but the truth is that the debut in the direction of Pepón Montero is better than good: it is one of the most stimulating things that have happened to our recent comedy.
