First, I should point out this is definitely not a movie for the kids. There's way too much nudity and the content of the movie is just too grim and adult.
The story is about two losers who just don't fit in this world. Jose convinces Juan that he has been receiving messages from aliens and the young guy believes it implicitly. Their mission is to contact various governments to let them know that the aliens are coming for a summit meeting in Spain. When the time for the meeting comes and goes and no aliens show (or world government leaders for that matter), they come to believe that the only way to make contact with the aliens is to shed their Earthly bodies (i.e., kill themselves). So, in the end, that is exactly what they do--by laying with their heads on the railroad tracks. Apparently this was based on a real story, though I have my doubts.
Despite the weirdness of the description I have given, this does not really appear to be a comedy or even a drama--just a strange recounting of the lives of two bizarre and screwy men. From a psychological point of view, it is a wonderful example of a man with Schizophrenia and his younger friend with Shared Psychotic Disorder (a pretty rare diagnosis--it's when a person becomes absorbed up into the delusions and fantasies of another until they, too, show evidence of insanity). The film wouldn't be bad to show a college psychology class. But would the average person who is not particularly interested in psychology and Schizophrenia be interested in the film? Maybe, though the film's deadpan and somewhat slow pace along with the bizarre theme guarantee this film is not for the average person. Most would likely just turn it off after a few minutes. No, to stick with it, you probably have to have a strong appreciation of the odd and counter-culture cinema. On this level, the film does work, though I found myself only mildly interested (and I teach psychology).
A truly bizarre film for mostly bizarre audiences. The very end of the picture is worth seeing alone--I won't say more, because it might spoil it for you--you weird, twisted freak!
The story is about two losers who just don't fit in this world. Jose convinces Juan that he has been receiving messages from aliens and the young guy believes it implicitly. Their mission is to contact various governments to let them know that the aliens are coming for a summit meeting in Spain. When the time for the meeting comes and goes and no aliens show (or world government leaders for that matter), they come to believe that the only way to make contact with the aliens is to shed their Earthly bodies (i.e., kill themselves). So, in the end, that is exactly what they do--by laying with their heads on the railroad tracks. Apparently this was based on a real story, though I have my doubts.
Despite the weirdness of the description I have given, this does not really appear to be a comedy or even a drama--just a strange recounting of the lives of two bizarre and screwy men. From a psychological point of view, it is a wonderful example of a man with Schizophrenia and his younger friend with Shared Psychotic Disorder (a pretty rare diagnosis--it's when a person becomes absorbed up into the delusions and fantasies of another until they, too, show evidence of insanity). The film wouldn't be bad to show a college psychology class. But would the average person who is not particularly interested in psychology and Schizophrenia be interested in the film? Maybe, though the film's deadpan and somewhat slow pace along with the bizarre theme guarantee this film is not for the average person. Most would likely just turn it off after a few minutes. No, to stick with it, you probably have to have a strong appreciation of the odd and counter-culture cinema. On this level, the film does work, though I found myself only mildly interested (and I teach psychology).
A truly bizarre film for mostly bizarre audiences. The very end of the picture is worth seeing alone--I won't say more, because it might spoil it for you--you weird, twisted freak!