Patagonia (2010)

'Patagonia' is a film directed by Marc Evans, providing a unique insight into two cultures that you wouldn't have ever considered to co-exist. I wasn't aware that Patagonia is a Welsh settlement in Argentina, since the mid 19th century where Welsh citizens were invited by the Argentine government to come to live in Patagonia. Miraculously, Patagonia still retains its Welsh community and is still thriving.The film is anchored by two stories, one spoken in Welsh and the other in Spanish, where both sets of people are searching for their identities. Rhys (Matthew Gravelle) is a photographer assigned with capturing the essence of Patagonia, and takes his girlfriend Gwen (Nia Roberts) for a working holiday. Travelling in the opposite direction is the elderly Argentinian Cerys (Marta Lubos) who wants to trace her ancestors before she dies, and misleads the unwitting teenage Alejandro (Nahaul Perez Biscayart) to come with her. The photography is stunning, with some wonderful scenes of the contrasts between the lush green hills of Northern Wales and the dusty deserts of the Patagonian landscapes. Both sets of couples experience various states of discomfort and joy in trying to find themselves, providing a nice balance between them which makes the film work. 'Patagonia' may often be cliché-ridden, sentimental and implausible but there is a warmth to the characters, especially Cerys and Alejandro, which is often very touching. Its one of those films which tugs on your emotions more than your imagination, and forces you to sit down and just enjoy watching an interesting sequence of events.

For me, the parallel story lines worked very well. I would say though, that I might not expect non-Welsh people to enjoy this anywhere near as much. The cinematography both in Argentina and Wales is gorgeous, but the story could maybe be difficult to engage with for others. For a start, it's mostly in Welsh or Spanish. English people rarely respond well to Welsh efforts to assert their culture so don't expect any different here. The part of the story that revolve around the Llyn Celyn reservoir was unexpected and subtly done - but again I wouldn't expect English viewers to understand or respond well to this. Who wants to hear that an ancient Welsh villages were drowned so that England could have more industrial water supplies?I watched this fully expecting to be bored witless but the flipping between the two tales creates a sustainable pace and saved what could have been prosaic stories.Well done Marc Evans!

Watched this on its Welsh TV premiere as I now live in Wales (although I am not a Welsh speaker). The film was a pleasure to watch compared to much of the Hollywood fare that is served up and is certainly worth watching.However, I have to agree with the previous reviewer that the film was ruined for my by the ridiculous endings to both stories particularly after the Grandmother died in Wales. It was completely ludicrous and ruined what could have been a much better film.On the positive side listen out for Duffy (who appears in the film) singing a Spanish version of Hope There's Someone the beautiful Antony and The Johnsons track at the very end of the film.

This film simply does not work. The two plot lines - unsympathetic Welsh couple travel to Patagonia and aged Argentinian lady and young chaperone travel to Wales to find the ancestral homestead - do not work in tandem at all. The Welsh couple are deeply unappealing individuals and the ending of their part of the story is both cheesy and unconvincing. Cerys, the aged lady, and her chaperone, Alejandro, are, however, attractive characters and there is some lovely gentle wit and humour that passes between them. The ending to their story is, however, equally implausible. The cinematography is good - not exceptional (the Patagonian scenery is far more interesting than the film makes out. Some of the Welsh scenery is, though, beautifully shot and captures the atmosphere of the place far better). However, this doesn't compensate at all for what is a very thin story. One can't help feeling that the Welsh IP Creative Fund, who provided funding for this, should be more rigorous. Welsh language alone really shouldn't be a justification for funding a film as disappointing as this. I wish I could be more positive, but I can't.