I do not know how to categorize this film. A thirty something immigrant from Spain is escaping her life there after a tragic accident has killed her daughter. Her mother asks her to return home, but she decides to remain in New York City. She works odd jobs, including one as a babysitter to two spoiled brats. A Russian friend informs her of a job paying $2,000 just to attend a private party and blend in while looking pretty in a black mini skirt. If it is too good to be true, and you know the rest. She shows up at the party and it does not go well. The last 15 minutes or so are quite disturbing. There is no way to describe it without spoiling the movie and so I won't. I will warn of some brief full nudity. The acting is good and it only runs eighty minutes. NY City provides a gritty background which works well for the movie.
44 Reviews
We make our own luck
johnmelmoth-2034217 February 2021
An undocumented immigrant in Manhattan attempts to make some quick cash when her friend invites her to get paid to beautify a party.
Drawn out as it follows her throughout the day, her multiple jobs, her landlord's threats, and one ice cream shopping trip not to be forgotten we spend more time getting her to the party than there. The anxiety builds throughout, because isn't just about the party so much as the circumstances that make the desperate decisions made there by all the women involved completely understandable.
The intimacy of the view of this woman's life is the best part of the film. People going for a straight horror/thriller film (as this was labeled when I watched it) are probably going to be a bit put off, but there is certainly the more mundane type of horror in abundance.
Can't say I loved the film (the ending feels a bit out of place and hokey in comparison to the lead-up), but given that this is Ana Asensio's first writer and director credits I have to say I am deeply impressed. This is a director that I'm going to keep an eye out for in the future.
Drawn out as it follows her throughout the day, her multiple jobs, her landlord's threats, and one ice cream shopping trip not to be forgotten we spend more time getting her to the party than there. The anxiety builds throughout, because isn't just about the party so much as the circumstances that make the desperate decisions made there by all the women involved completely understandable.
The intimacy of the view of this woman's life is the best part of the film. People going for a straight horror/thriller film (as this was labeled when I watched it) are probably going to be a bit put off, but there is certainly the more mundane type of horror in abundance.
Can't say I loved the film (the ending feels a bit out of place and hokey in comparison to the lead-up), but given that this is Ana Asensio's first writer and director credits I have to say I am deeply impressed. This is a director that I'm going to keep an eye out for in the future.
Essentially, "13 Tzameti" rewritten.
planktonrules24 October 2017
Warning: Spoilers
If you want a fun or pleasant film, then please for the love of God do NOT watch this film. Likewise, if you are severely phobic about spiders, for the love of God do NOT watch this film. You can't say I didn't warn you.
The film is about Luciana, an illegal alien from Spain who is living in New York City. Because she has no social security number or i.d., she is forced to work crappy jobs for cash under the table. But in the process, she makes herself frazzled and is miserable...and something needs to give. The chance to make A LOT of money presents itself when her 'friend', Olga, tells her about a party where she can make a couple thousand dollars in one night. How?! Well, Olga assures Luciana everything will be fine...just show up at the place and she'll be happy with the result. As for Olga's promise, well, she's a total liar...and what awaits Luciana is pretty much what you see in "13 Tzameti"....and it's really painful to watch. So my advice is if you don't mind seeing horrible human cruelty, giant spiders and copious nudity, it might be a good bet to see this one. As for me, I found it oppressive...well made but oppressive.
The film is about Luciana, an illegal alien from Spain who is living in New York City. Because she has no social security number or i.d., she is forced to work crappy jobs for cash under the table. But in the process, she makes herself frazzled and is miserable...and something needs to give. The chance to make A LOT of money presents itself when her 'friend', Olga, tells her about a party where she can make a couple thousand dollars in one night. How?! Well, Olga assures Luciana everything will be fine...just show up at the place and she'll be happy with the result. As for Olga's promise, well, she's a total liar...and what awaits Luciana is pretty much what you see in "13 Tzameti"....and it's really painful to watch. So my advice is if you don't mind seeing horrible human cruelty, giant spiders and copious nudity, it might be a good bet to see this one. As for me, I found it oppressive...well made but oppressive.
I'm confused by the high ratings
miss-mme21 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was pointless, the plot can be summed up completely in less than two sentences. I paused it 15min before the ending and wondered why nothing had happened yet. Then the last 15min were completely disappointing, and not saved by the random nudity. Honestly watching her go through egg harvesting for money would have probably been more compelling and scary.
Most Beautiful Island turns the American dream into a gruelling nightmare.
TheMovieDiorama17 July 2018
Directorial debut, producer, writer and leading actress. Asensio delivers a contemporary thriller utilising desperation as its thoroughly constructed buildup to its uneasy conclusion. What I will say, for the very first time, is that I leapt up from my sofa exclaiming "Nooo no no I can't do this!" and hid behind it with fear. Whether or not the same effect will occur to you depends on what conjures up your trepidation. As I write this, my skin is tingling with anxiety...it was that powerful. An immigrant who moves to New York to chase the "big dream" rapidly discovers that the idyllic lifestyle isn't so easy to achieve, thus resorting to desperation to earn money. Asensio's stripped back simplicity allows the dialogue to remain prominent throughout. Whilst it may lack sharpness and astute vocabulary, it does remain natural. Brave long takes of conversational pieces that slowly manifest into dread. In the back of your mind, you know something is going to happen...you just don't know what. Fear of the unknown is a commanding tool, and Asensio masterfully manipulates this concept to create a memorable thriller. Purposely avoiding the cynical issue of immigration was necessary to avoid being biased, and I appreciate that. It's not so much a character piece, but more of an event perspective where we follow the character of Luciana for just one day. Much like the thematic narrative, she remains unknown to us. Whilst I do appreciate the ambiguity, crucial back story elements needed more exploration in order to enhance the emotional investment of Luciana. This becomes apparent during the unspeakable final act. Honestly, I'm surprised I didn't have nightmares or violently vomit from anxiety. Powerful, just pure visceral imagery. Acting was solid all round and the casting of unknown stars elevated the natural environment even further. Will this appeal to everyone? Not at all. A slow contemporary independent thriller that relishes in its occasional pretentiousness. But what a payoff!
Women will understand the suspense
provencalmireille16 August 2022
I really liked this movie. It kept me at the edge of my seat for a while. Yes, it is slow at first, but I liked it that way because it got me to understand the main character more thoroughly . I feel you need to be a woman to really understand how terrifying the story is. I was quite surprised by the ending.
Another misfire with the immigrant nightmare
Jithindurden25 November 2017
Ana Asensio stars and directs in this mystery drama that tries to show the 'immigrant nightmare'. The opening shot suggesting this could be the story of any one of a large number of immigrant stories and basically, the idea behind it is good but the film fails at every other level. The acting by most of the actors wasn't convincing enough and the budget constraints can be felt. The plot is kind of a lighter version of Hostel which could've meant that we may, at last, get a good movie on the subject but alas that is not the case. The direction is kind of amateurish too, the tone never settled anywhere which makes you think they were confused how they wanted to show it. The subject is an important one which needs a better film treatment.
I'm a huge fan of thrillers, however....
villanuevakayla21 January 2019
Although I am a huge fan of thriller movies and I keep myself very open minded to every type of film I decide to watch, this film, I have to say lacked a few essential components that I believe are very important when creating a movie. Personally, I do like this film and the only detail that I really care to write about and that really took away the most "points" from my rating was definitely the ending. If you've already seen the movie then you know exactly what I m referring to. There was so much buildup throughout the movie and when everything finally started to pickup or connect, there was a huge drop...as if it were meant for the audience to be left at the edge of our seats. If that's what they were going for or what was meant to happen, then I personally don't care for that type of conclusion; although it's pretty difficult to call it a conclusion at all. Also, if it were meant to leave us drawing the conclusion that a sequel were to follow, there just wasn't enough detail to insist that either. So, all in all, I liked it...but because a very smooth and well thought out ending is very important to me, personally, I had to take away quite a bit from what I rated this movie.
this movie stunk
t-unknown-one7 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
It'll be tough to write five lines. It's all right there in the summary. I read reviews and thought I was in for a shocking horror- fest ending. Wrong, it was very dull. Admittedly, I wouldn't want to be in any of their shoes in the ending scenes but it was nothing special really, a real fizzle out ending. I'm not a fan of slasher/gore films and that's not the type of horror/thriller I was looking for and still this film simply stunk. There was nothing deep I could have missed. Whoever said in their review that it was full of mystery was very very misleading, there is no real mystery, maybe a little anticipation as you don't know exactly what is going to be required of the lead character to earn this big money but it's not much and not all that unique. The acting really wasn't bad, but they had junk to work with. Oh, and contrary to one of the other reviews here, there are NO "giant spiders" just two very small ones. Trust me, this movie sucked considering all the hype the reviews on here gave it. It's nothing special, shocking or eye opening, in fact, I was sorry I left mine open long enough to see it all.
Create your own luck
gedikreverdi9 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
She literally tried to barely survive as an immigrant in NYC with her creditless phone, unpaid rent for a run-down roach infested apartment adn babysitting horrible kids for money. I emphatize with her immediately. Olga, a Russian friend of her, offered her a dubious job that would pay very handsomely. She went to the "party" location in the basement of a creepy dilapidated building. They waited their turns and it really kept me wonder what would happen behind cloed door. When there was an off-screen killing, girls went mad and it was her turn with Olga. They both unlocked their purses and two very venomous spiders came out. She laid down in a glass coffin with the spider for some time. She did it and helped Olga did it and got the money. She treated herself ice cream outside and that was it. I definitely liked it and it was very tense at the basement while they were waiting and the rest but I expected a much better ending instead of this.
Dunno what suspense people are talking about.
tariqzafar-1202027 May 2019
If you watch the last 15-20 minutes of the movie you watch it all. The rest of it just seems stretched. In the beginning there is a scene where there are many cockroaches entering through a wall. I thought it was meant to give a horror turn but it turned out to be nothing. If its just meant to be the story of hardships faced by an immigrant and what all things they sign up for then it could have meant something but tagging it under horror mystery doesn't make much sense.
A Powerful Provocative Film about the Dark Side of the American Dream
JustCuriosity16 March 2017
Most Beautiful Island was extremely well-received at Austin's SXSW Film Festival where it won Grand Jury Award for Narrative Feature. This eloquent film explores the experiences of Luciana, a recent undocumented immigrant, who has recently arrived from her home land and is just trying to get by in New York. The film focuses on a single day as she takes various odd jobs and then gets invited to work at a mysterious party where she will be extremely well-paid for a single night's work. The suspense builds towards a truly shocking and deeply disturbing climax. This film shows the truly dark side of the American Dream and the truly disturbing nature of class privilege in a society with huge gaps in class and, therefore, power and privilege.
The story is described as inspired by true events so there may be some exaggeration in the actual climax, but it is still quite powerful and leaves the audience awestruck. Ana Asensio directed, wrote and stars in this fascinating and absorbing film. It is beautiful written, filmed and acted. The tension builds towards the disturbing climax. The American Dream is not always what it seems to be and needs to be re-imagined for our current economic and political realities. I hope the film gets distributed so more people can learn to empathize with the immigrant experience which has sadly become a political punching bag in recent years.
The story is described as inspired by true events so there may be some exaggeration in the actual climax, but it is still quite powerful and leaves the audience awestruck. Ana Asensio directed, wrote and stars in this fascinating and absorbing film. It is beautiful written, filmed and acted. The tension builds towards the disturbing climax. The American Dream is not always what it seems to be and needs to be re-imagined for our current economic and political realities. I hope the film gets distributed so more people can learn to empathize with the immigrant experience which has sadly become a political punching bag in recent years.
Not much of substance, just some pairs
SaviorsCameraMan12 February 2019
So, so long for no payoff
tashiee2315 May 2020
A Good Watch
A1l9i8m621 December 2018
Had the movie been shorter to a 25 minute stint episode of the Twilight Zone my rating may have been higher
jordondave-280853 May 2023
(2017) Most Beautiful Island
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
Again, because imdb does not give users the ability to give 1/2 stars, this movie to me is like a bare pass, for it belongs to a 25 stint episode of the Twilight Zone than as a featured film. And it is better to be watched at home so that way, the viewer can view the movie with the fast forward button while playing with a remote control button at hand, part of the reason I am giving this movie a pass.
Co-produced, written, directed and starring Ana Asensio directing a no plot movie as she plays Luciana struggling to make ends meet while living in NYC, struggling in terms of making money. She has just moved there as an immigrant as she is attempting to make a new life for herself after losing a daughter. She has two jobs both are low paying jobs, one is to hand out leaflets for a fry chicken establishment, and the other one is working kind of as a babysitter. And by the time she comes back to her run down apartment she looks to have share with another former tenant, with indications of sticky notes to remind her to pay and so forth, she does decide to take a bath (this scene is key) as there's a scene where she removes duct tape, stuck onto a wall and she lets out a bunch of cockroaches into the bathwater she was bathing in without flinching. By the time she meets Olga, her co-worker for handing out leaflets to passerby's on the street for this fry chicken place, and after work making general conversation, she asks Luciana if she was wiling to take her place to make some quick cash of two thousand dollars, which consists of just standing around and posing for a group of people. And by the time Luciana manages to arrive, that it is not what she thought it was as there was a reason why immigrants like her are used.
As I said at the outset, one would need to use the fast forward button to move the movie along which can be frustrating to viewers watching it straight through as a good percentage of the movie is nothing more but showcases Luciana's money struggles, viewers so much do not need to know so much of the details. That is why I am giving this a pass which if I were to watch this at the theater, I'd clearly give this movie a thumbs down.
Again, because imdb does not give users the ability to give 1/2 stars, this movie to me is like a bare pass, for it belongs to a 25 stint episode of the Twilight Zone than as a featured film. And it is better to be watched at home so that way, the viewer can view the movie with the fast forward button while playing with a remote control button at hand, part of the reason I am giving this movie a pass.
Co-produced, written, directed and starring Ana Asensio directing a no plot movie as she plays Luciana struggling to make ends meet while living in NYC, struggling in terms of making money. She has just moved there as an immigrant as she is attempting to make a new life for herself after losing a daughter. She has two jobs both are low paying jobs, one is to hand out leaflets for a fry chicken establishment, and the other one is working kind of as a babysitter. And by the time she comes back to her run down apartment she looks to have share with another former tenant, with indications of sticky notes to remind her to pay and so forth, she does decide to take a bath (this scene is key) as there's a scene where she removes duct tape, stuck onto a wall and she lets out a bunch of cockroaches into the bathwater she was bathing in without flinching. By the time she meets Olga, her co-worker for handing out leaflets to passerby's on the street for this fry chicken place, and after work making general conversation, she asks Luciana if she was wiling to take her place to make some quick cash of two thousand dollars, which consists of just standing around and posing for a group of people. And by the time Luciana manages to arrive, that it is not what she thought it was as there was a reason why immigrants like her are used.
As I said at the outset, one would need to use the fast forward button to move the movie along which can be frustrating to viewers watching it straight through as a good percentage of the movie is nothing more but showcases Luciana's money struggles, viewers so much do not need to know so much of the details. That is why I am giving this a pass which if I were to watch this at the theater, I'd clearly give this movie a thumbs down.
Not A Thriller or Horror Film
payasoingenioso3 March 2021
Not a beautiful movie.
Divine_Dev17 April 2018
I saw this movie because of my love for horror genre and i thought why not, lets watch it. And i was disappointed as except for the last few minutes in the film, there is nothing to watch or rather i should say nothing that would keep you from being disinterested in the movie. Even in the last minutes of the film, i didn't find anything interesting or unusual horror or any thrill in it.
The story in the beginning says that it is inspired by true events, which is also incorrect as i checked the certification at the end of the film which says it is a work of fiction. Pure drama and a bit of thrill in the end. But apart from that, nothing else to look for in the movie. It would be an beautiful island but certainly not a beautiful film.
The story in the beginning says that it is inspired by true events, which is also incorrect as i checked the certification at the end of the film which says it is a work of fiction. Pure drama and a bit of thrill in the end. But apart from that, nothing else to look for in the movie. It would be an beautiful island but certainly not a beautiful film.
The eye of the beholder
kosmasp21 August 2020
Or is it holder? Or who are we even talking about? And where is that island? Now I do understand people who are almost mad at the movie - not because of the title who may not mean anything to you or what to expect from this, but because of the pacing and the almost zero payoff at the end. And I say almost, because if you really think about it, it does set things into motion and it does mean something overall. Is it enough though and would you just want to see more? It is tough to please everyone anyway.
The main character here may or may not be relatable. Some may hate her outright, just for existing, just for being an illegal alien in their country. If you can leave politics aside and try to focus on the human story that is behind this all, it may be slow, but gets quite terrifying towards the end. There is one scene especially that really gets under the skin - quite literally. Crazy independent movie indeed and not everyones cup of tea
The main character here may or may not be relatable. Some may hate her outright, just for existing, just for being an illegal alien in their country. If you can leave politics aside and try to focus on the human story that is behind this all, it may be slow, but gets quite terrifying towards the end. There is one scene especially that really gets under the skin - quite literally. Crazy independent movie indeed and not everyones cup of tea
Pointless film
ellybendi21 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Very one dimensional. A very unlikeable poor foreign girl mooches round New York ripping people off for an hour. Another unlikeable foreign girl tells her she can be well paid to go to an underground party. Both girls go, each has a spider walk on them while naked for 2 minutes. The end.
There is no hidden meaning, no depth or dimension and I am an experienced film viewer that finds a reason to appreciate most films, even the crap ones. I felt compelled to write my first ever review to warn people. It is beyond me why this film has a 5.6 rating. I can only assume it is the film-makers' families and friends plus the 2 minutes of nakedness at the end of the film that has upped the average.
There is no hidden meaning, no depth or dimension and I am an experienced film viewer that finds a reason to appreciate most films, even the crap ones. I felt compelled to write my first ever review to warn people. It is beyond me why this film has a 5.6 rating. I can only assume it is the film-makers' families and friends plus the 2 minutes of nakedness at the end of the film that has upped the average.
Uuummm...
wrightiswright28 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Well that was... interesting. Most Beautiful Island plays like your standard drama of a foreigner struggling away from home after escaping a horrible event in America, taking on any embarrassing job she can to pay the rent of her parasite infested apartment.
From handing out flyers in an embarrassing costume to babysitting two little brats, nothing seems beneath our poor Spanish immigrant, and we're sure for a long time the film is going to end either in tragedy for her or reach a pivotal moment where she packs it all in and flies back home.
Instead, she gets an invite to a private party along with a few other attractive girls, and no it is NOT for the reasons you might think. After getting all dressed up and leaving her phone outside (as per requested) she enters the underground festivities to discover... well, that would be telling.
Sufficed to say, the last twenty minutes will be the most anyone can remember, not because they're particularly graphic or disturbing but they're just... odd. Is there really a secret network of people in the USA who get off on this sort of thing? Would they actually pay top money to see it?
I have my doubts. What isn't in any doubt though, is while Most Beautiful Island is an exercise in mind-numbing mediocrity for most of it's length, I give it credit for giving me those moments I shall recall for a long time.
Notice I didn't say 'cherish'. That was intentional. 5/10
From handing out flyers in an embarrassing costume to babysitting two little brats, nothing seems beneath our poor Spanish immigrant, and we're sure for a long time the film is going to end either in tragedy for her or reach a pivotal moment where she packs it all in and flies back home.
Instead, she gets an invite to a private party along with a few other attractive girls, and no it is NOT for the reasons you might think. After getting all dressed up and leaving her phone outside (as per requested) she enters the underground festivities to discover... well, that would be telling.
Sufficed to say, the last twenty minutes will be the most anyone can remember, not because they're particularly graphic or disturbing but they're just... odd. Is there really a secret network of people in the USA who get off on this sort of thing? Would they actually pay top money to see it?
I have my doubts. What isn't in any doubt though, is while Most Beautiful Island is an exercise in mind-numbing mediocrity for most of it's length, I give it credit for giving me those moments I shall recall for a long time.
Notice I didn't say 'cherish'. That was intentional. 5/10
An immigrant and dark thrill and Ana Asensio complete package.........
kashidomar31 October 2017
This is a different type of movie all together. Not a normal thriller movie of recent time. With lot of mystery it involves the misery of a Spanish immigrant and her struggling life. She suffers to meet her daily needs. She does anything to earn money.
This movie is associated with the dark side of rich people of Newyork city. Along this it also creates an interesting environment and lot of suspense about the torturing process of the rich people. All the way you are not sure what is going to happen next. What violence is going to grab her.
Ana Asensio deserve a lot of credit as she is the writer, director and the central role of the movie. First of all she has written an extraordinary script mixed with sorrow, pain,sufferings,horror and violence. Next she has directed the movie pretty well as the movie starts with the simple story of the immigrant girl but soon reaches it's pick when the original game of shadows started to flourish. And finally as an actress she has created perfect moves to draw the figure of the emotions and tears of the central role.
Some audience may find the movie a bit harsh as they may find it difficult to tolerate the cruelty of human mind arising from the darkest side of our mind. Some may find it a notorious movie as there are several near nude and seminude scenes in the film. But apart from all this it is an excellent movie of saddest aspect of the immigrant life with a lot of appeal and mystery as well as thrill in it.
This movie is associated with the dark side of rich people of Newyork city. Along this it also creates an interesting environment and lot of suspense about the torturing process of the rich people. All the way you are not sure what is going to happen next. What violence is going to grab her.
Ana Asensio deserve a lot of credit as she is the writer, director and the central role of the movie. First of all she has written an extraordinary script mixed with sorrow, pain,sufferings,horror and violence. Next she has directed the movie pretty well as the movie starts with the simple story of the immigrant girl but soon reaches it's pick when the original game of shadows started to flourish. And finally as an actress she has created perfect moves to draw the figure of the emotions and tears of the central role.
Some audience may find the movie a bit harsh as they may find it difficult to tolerate the cruelty of human mind arising from the darkest side of our mind. Some may find it a notorious movie as there are several near nude and seminude scenes in the film. But apart from all this it is an excellent movie of saddest aspect of the immigrant life with a lot of appeal and mystery as well as thrill in it.
my notes
FeastMode25 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is not a movie. it can easily be mistaken for a student film. i could tell in the first two minutes. it could easily have been a 30 minute short film but they extended everything out to an hour and 20 so it could be feature length. long extended scenes of nothingness, and almost nothing happened the entire movie. and all of the anticipation led to a whimper of a climax (1 viewing)
SPOILERS
turns out these guys bet if a spider would bite and kill the girl. she survives. movie over. smh. and i don't even think they revealed what was in their locked purses
SPOILERS
turns out these guys bet if a spider would bite and kill the girl. she survives. movie over. smh. and i don't even think they revealed what was in their locked purses
Wouldn't bother!
jasondwight-455275 June 2018
Absolutely boring as hell. Rated an 18 but god knows why!! Kept waiting for something to happen. In about the last 15 minutes it gets as exciting as the film gets but even that's a stretch. I honestly wouldn't bother as nothing really actually happens.
Slow moving and a bit strange.
frankcossentino1 February 2018
A day in the life of an immigrant living in New York City. Luciana (Ana Asensio) works multiple dead-end jobs but still can't seem to make ends meet. Desperate for money, she agrees to work a party, despite not knowing anything about it besides the fact that she will receive $2000 when she's done.
Very slow paced movie. It's not boring, just slow. And the ending is a bit on the strange side. If it's raining or snowing and you need to pass time, watch it. Being a guy, the nudity helps :)
Very slow paced movie. It's not boring, just slow. And the ending is a bit on the strange side. If it's raining or snowing and you need to pass time, watch it. Being a guy, the nudity helps :)
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