CinemaSerf

Oct 19, 2023

7.0

Ignacio López Tarso is super in this superior adaptation of the Traven story "The Third Guest". He and his wife (Pina Pellicer) are living an all but hand-to-mouth existence with their young family - who reminded me frequently of baby birds in a nest constantly looking to be fed. He collects and sells firewood to the local bakery, she takes in laundry and does mending work. It's whilst he is delivering his wood that he sees half a dozen plump turkeys being roasted in the bakery ovens for a local grandee. The smell and the sight of these sizzling birds leads him to vow that he will not eat again until he can devour an whole bird - all by himself! For days he declines his food, but a slight contretemps between his wife and one of her clients might just provide for his deliverance... Heading into the forest with his unexpected fayre he encounters three individuals who offer him varying degrees of "riches" if he will share. He shows wisdom until an emaciated character tugs too hard on his heart strings. His reward is a gourde of water from the spring of life. One drop of this will stave off death from even the most terminally ill - well it will, most of the time! He uses his newfound power sparingly at first, but soon he garners fame and fortune and the attention of the Holy Inquisition. Having survived his perilous trip through the forest, can he now survive the suspicions of his own race? There is a very basic, but hugely effective, visual effect that allows us to follow his journey with his newly arrived friend (Enrique Lucero) and the direction from Roberto Galvadón allows us to begin to appreciate, slowly, quite what choice the eponymous character has, perhaps unwittingly - perhaps not - chosen for himself. The score complements well, as does the general aesthetic of this film and I really did enjoy the mix of the fantasy, sacrifice and the social comment. It looks great on a big screen, but is well worth a watch on any screen.