We are in front of a not conventional movie. In fact, we can ask ourselves if this is a "movie" indeed, perhaps is better call it as a "film". By the way, we are in front of an art work.... better.... an art film.... and even better a art film about art creation.

The film of Erice is a very risky bet. The film was started without a script, and close to an experiment. I can assure that, although there are not abstract forms, strident music and a chaotic plot, THIS is an experimental film.... In the other side, I ask myself... Is this a documentary film?. I can not assure that, but is close to. This is a film, perfect for a video-forum about "What is a doc?".

In "El Sol del membrillo" we find that the people who appear are their selves, and act, but they act in their everyday life with some hints made by the director of the film. There are no a written line of script, and this can be easily seen, because they are many times tense about the presence of the camera, and their behavior are unnatural but is not fiction. The dialogues are plenty true, but they flow scared because the presence of the filming unit.

We are in front of a film where is no any dialogue in the first 20minutes, more than a "Hello, How are you?". This occurs also because there is no ANY voice in off, in difference with TV documentaries. In this aspect, we can say that Erice tries to be an objective viewer. We can watch. And we can listen... We should discover the film, the film is not explained himself, it should be discovered actively by the viewer.

The film plot is simple and also minimalist, Antonio López (famous Spanish painter) begins to paint a Quince Tree trying to capture the light of the early Autumn in it... the rest of the plot is reality. Adventures in the courtyard of a suburb of Madrid, while it rains, and conversations with friends or visitors.

Why to made this film? Erice wants to be a witness through the cinema, of an artistic creation. This film is a reflection about art itself, about picture art, about cinema art and about life itself. This is a work about the necessity of artistic expression. A need to search of something that appears inside the heart.

Erice approaches to Antonio López in a search. Erice said recently "I think I made the film trying to understand what was behind. I had to make the film to sense something, to achieve certain kind of truth". Erice think that he was not innovating, in fact it was more a return to the origins of film making. A return to Lumiere. We are talking about the Language of cinema itself, the cinema have the possibility of capture the appearance of the things.

In this film, we can also perceive a "life style". The living style of an mature artist. This brings up a reflection about the creation of art. The art work doesn't develops to reach the completeness, it doesn't bother if you reach to complete it or not. The main thing is develop it, and the relationship between the artist and his growing art work. It is a concept of absolute independence of creation, when the artist is not forced to finish the work in a time. This way of working is only possible when there is a way of living and certain philosophy of life. A philosophy away from hysteria stress and fast food, and closer to Zen and spirituality. A discovery of the happiness through a life based on the developing of a artistic process.

Antonio Lopez says about this: "It's been a long time since I've talked of 'finishing a painting', A painting never ends. It's always open. If you have already put enough into it, not everything, but enough, you could go on but then come the difficulties, fatigue, commitments and the desire of starting a new work. The painting is then suspended but never finished."

The film also talks about the modern world, and the style of living. About TV phenomenon, and about modern society. A snapshot of the Metropoli of Madrid, that I feel realistic.

This is a film for meditation, for think in art and life. And for watching many times. Erice gives you time to think, and to relax. Take time, breathe deep, and let's watch this unique film.

Gonzalo Blasco