Daniela Forever

Daniela Forever, directed by Nacho Vigalondo, is a contemplative exploration of grief, memory and obsession. Rooted in Henry Golding's nuanced portrait of Nicolás, a British DJ grappling with the death of his girlfriend Daniela, played by Beatrice Grannò, the film traverses both the real world and a surreal dreamscape. Through the use of experimental lucid dreaming pills, Nicolás attempts to rebuild his life with Daniela, revealing the darker dimensions of human attachment and desire. Vigalondo's distinctive visual style and intricate narrative weave create a cinematic experience as inventive as it is unsettling.

From the outset, Daniela Forever establishes a dichotomy between Nicolás's dull, grainy real world - filmed in a retro Betamax 4:3 format - and the vibrant, expansive dream world, animated by vivid colors and widescreen format. This visual contrast is not just an aesthetic choice, it's also a narrative tool that draws viewers into the protagonist's fractured psyche. The juxtaposition underscores Nicolás' preference for the dream world, where he exercises divine control, molding Daniela into an idealized version of his former self. The film's visual approach immerses the audience in the protagonist's emotional struggles, but the aesthetic brilliance is at times at odds with the narrative's pace and coherence.

Henry Golding delivers a convincing performance, precisely balancing Nicolás' vulnerability and manipulative tendencies. His performance captures the torment of a man desperate to relive a lost connection, but blinded by his inability to accept the autonomy of the other. Golding's soulful eyes and sober body language convey Nicolás's anguish, making even his morally questionable actions understandable. Beatrice Grannò, as Daniela, delivers a poignant dual performance: her version of the dream world subtly diverges from the real Daniela, reflecting Nicolás' imperfect reconstruction. Grannò's ability to imbue the character with charm and artificiality 
simultaneously underscores the story's central tragedy.

The film tackles themes of control and the moral implications of rewriting personal history. Nicolás' use of the dreamed Daniela as a receptacle for his idealized memories reveals his refusal to confront reality. This obsessive manipulation evokes comparisons with Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, where the protagonist similarly reconstructs the ideal of a lost lover. However, Daniela Forever adds a unique layer by incorporating elements of science fiction, questioning the boundaries between memory and artificiality. Despite a rich thematic base, the script occasionally runs out of steam, leaving secondary characters underdeveloped and certain narrative threads unresolved. For example, the inclusion of Daniela's ex-girlfriend Teresa, played by Aura Garrido, offers intriguing possibilities but remains unexplored, diminishing its potential impact.

Nacho Vigalondo's film operates on a slow trajectory, which, while effective in building tension, risks alienating viewers in search of a more dynamic plot. The middle act, laden with repetitive dream sequences, stretches the narrative, undermining the emotional weight of its revelations. What's more, the open-ended conclusion, though thematically coherent, risks frustrating viewers in search of an ending. The film's reluctance to fully confront Nicolás' toxic tendencies further complicates its moral stance, leaving viewers in a liminal space of empathy and disapproval.

Despite its imperfections, Daniela Forever is an ambitious exploration of love, loss and the human tendency to cling to the past. Nacho Vigalondo's direction features his characteristic blend of whimsical storytelling and provocative wit, though the results are uneven. The film's visual inventiveness and Henry Golding's magnetic performance elevate it beyond conventional romance or sci-fi drama. Daniela Forever ultimately offers a haunting meditation on the price of grief and the dangers of building happiness on the illusion of control, leaving a lasting impact on those willing to navigate its labyrinthine depths...

Daniela Forever
Written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo
Produced by Nahikari Ipiña, Nacho Vigalondo, Benoit Roland, Leire Apellaniz
Starring Henry Golding, Beatrice Grannò, Aura Garrido, Rubén Ochandiano, Nathalie Poza
Cinematography : Jon D. Domínguez
Edited by Carolina Martínez Urbina
Music by Hidrogenesse
Production companies : Daniela Forever AIE, Sayaka Producciones, Wrong Men, Señor y Señora, Mediacrest Entertainment
Distributed by Filmax (Spain)
Release date : 6 September 2024 (TIFF)
Running time : 110 minutes

Viewed on October 30, 2024

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