Is Yerma: Barren Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2017)
Eva Stone is a woman with strong conservative beliefs. She is married to John, a British politician and a business man of Spanish origin, who is unable to have children. To Eva, a woman's life has no meaning if she is not a mother. A Spanish theater company is in London to perform Yerma, the play by Federico García Lorca. The Director, Victor is a friend of Eva and her husband from bygone times. A new passion is reborn between Eva and Victor and Eva has new opportunities to get pregnant. Eva's true drama is not so much that she can't have children but the impossibility, because of strict social conventions, that she can't have them out of wedlock. The real problem shown in the movie is the lack of freedoms and the imposed self-censorship in a standstill and full of conventions society.
✨ The Quick Verdict
If you are a fan of Drama, Romance cinema, then Yerma: Barren offers a standard experience that justifies its existence in the 2017 landscape.
👥 Target Audience
📔 Detailed Analysis
The Narrative Arc & Core Premise
Debuting in 2017, Yerma: Barren represents a sophisticated intersection of artistic ambition and genre-defining elements within the Drama, Romance category. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into Eva Stone is a woman with strong conservative beliefs. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Drama, Romance are tested.
The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "Eva Stone is a woman with strong conservative beliefs. She is married to John, a British politician and a business man of Spanish origin, who is unable to have children. To Eva, a woman's life has no meaning if she is not a mother. A Spanish theater company is in London to perform Yerma, the play by Federico García Lorca. The Director, Victor is a friend of Eva and her husband from bygone times. A new passion is reborn between Eva and Victor and Eva has new opportunities to get pregnant. Eva's true drama is not so much that she can't have children but the impossibility, because of strict social conventions, that she can't have them out of wedlock. The real problem shown in the movie is the lack of freedoms and the imposed self-censorship in a standstill and full of conventions society."
Artistic Execution & Performance Study
A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. Rebecca Grant does an admirable job with the material provided, but one can't help but feel that a more daring directorial approach would have yielded a more impactful result. It is a competent but ultimately standard genre performance.
The direction by Emilio Ruiz Barrachina is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its N/A minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.
Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch
Is Yerma: Barren truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Drama, Romance, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.
The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.
Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision
At a deeper level, Yerma: Barren explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 2017 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Emilio Ruiz Barrachina respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.
The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.
Final Editorial Recommendation
Ultimately, Yerma: Barren is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Rebecca Grant or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, Yerma: Barren is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.