Even the Rain (Meme La Pluie) (2011)
89%RT Audience Score: 85%
Awards & Nominations: 22 wins & 17 nominations
Even the Rain is a film that deftly weaves together the complexities of history, art, and social activism. Bollen and Laverty’s meta-cinematic approach offers a refreshing take on the tired trope of colonialism, while the performances from Tosar and Aduviri are nothing short of striking. The film invites us to look into a hall of mirrors that reflects the Third World and our own complicity in its exploitation. It is a timely and layered work that incites self-reflection and offers a cutting, self-critical analysis of the medium of film. In short, Even the Rain is a must-see for anyone interested in the intersection of art and social justice.
Even the Rain is a film that takes on the big questions of history and social responsibility, all while keeping you entertained with its hall of mirrors storytelling. It’s like a film within a film within a film, and it’s all about colonialism and the struggle of Indigenous people. But don’t worry, it’s not all serious – there are some great performances that will keep you laughing and engaged. Overall, it’s a fascinating and dynamic movie that will make you think and reflect on your own place in the world.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Cochabamba, Bolivia
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2011
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital Dolby SR
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):Spanish, Quechua, English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 14, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2012
Genre(s)
Keyword(s)
Even the Rain, drama, Spanish (Spain), directed by Icíar Bollaín, written by Paul Laverty, produced by Juan Gordon, Éric Altmayer, Mónica Lozano, Emma Lustres, starring Luis Tosar, Gael García Bernal, Juan Carlos Aduviri, Karra Elejalde, Carlos Santos, Raúl Arévalo, box office gross $558.3K, MPAA rating, reviewed by Mike McCahill, Nigel Andrews, Sherwyn Spencer, Dave Calhoun, Rick Groen, Adam Nayman, Rosa Parra, David Walsh, Mattie Lucas, Joseph Walsh, Myriam Ghattas, critics, water supply privatization, Spanish conquest, exploitation, Bolivia, indigenous people, film production, Columbus’ voyages, Water Wars, imperialism, peasant uprisings, Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, Fellini’s La Dolce Vita
Worldwide gross: $7,313,485
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $9,628,187
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,974
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,049,966
US/Canada gross: $518,017
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $681,968
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,264
US/Canada opening weekend: $53,730
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $70,735
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,078
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Gael García Bernal – Sebastián
Juan Carlos Aduviri – Daniel
Karra Elejalde – Anton
Carlos Santos – Alberto
Raúl Arévalo – Juan
Director(s)
Icíar Bollaín
Writer(s)
Paul Laverty
Producer(s)
Juan Gordon, Éric Altmayer, Mónica Lozano, Emma Lustres
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
22 wins & 17 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (63) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (55) | Rotten (8)
There are striking performances from Luis Tosar as a cynical yet flexible producer and Juan Carlos Aduviri as the native who becomes a figurehead for those who don’t have the luxury of playacting.
May 17, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Mike McCahill
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Bollen and Laverty punch up every icon and wingding in the arthouse clich dropdown.
May 17, 2012 | Rating: 1/5
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
Never really excels in any given area, and re-watch factor is a zero.
May 17, 2012 | Rating: 1/5
Sherwyn Spencer
Little White Lies
TOP CRITIC
Bollan and Laverty offer a cutting, self-critical analysis of their medium while finding an honest and effective perspective on history…
May 15, 2012 | Rating: 4/5
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
A film within a film within a film, Even the Rain holds up a hall of mirrors to the Third World and invites us to look in.
May 6, 2011 | Rating: 3/4
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
The film, meanwhile, remains mired in the middle ground between meta-cinematic cleverness and earnest good intentions.
May 5, 2011 | Rating: 2/5
Adam Nayman
eye WEEKLY
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating telling of the making of a movie about colonialism that parallels the modern struggle of the Indigenous people. Shines a light on history and who gets to tell it and with what perspective.
August 15, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Rosa Parra
Latinx Lens
Even the Rain … takes on significant questions of history and contemporary social life, as well as artistic and human responsibility.
February 13, 2021
David Walsh
World Socialist Web Site
It is a dynamic and layered film, marked by fluid storytelling and timely themes that are presented without the kind of shameless pandering that so often accompany films about social activism.
August 5, 2019 | Rating: 3/4
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
Despite a number of strong performances, Even the Rain remains an overly-ambitious, highly problematic film.
August 23, 2018 | Rating: 2/5
Joseph Walsh
CineVue
It is a movie that, at the very least, incites the spectator to self-reflect.
February 13, 2017
Myriam Ghattas
Daily News Egypt
Well-acted and always with an ear cocked, listening for its own social relevance.
January 18, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Moore
Movie Nation…
Plot
Spanish director Sebastián, his executive producer Costa and all his crew are in Bolivia, in the Cochabamba area, to shoot a motion picture about Christopher Columbus, his first explorations and the way the Spaniards treated the Indians at the time. Costa has chosen this place because the budget of the film is tight and here he can hire supernumeraries, local actors and extras on the cheap. Things go more or less smoothly until a conflict erupts over the privatization of the water supply. The trouble is that one of the local actors, is a leading activist in the protest movement.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Luis Tosar’s performance as the cynical yet flexible producer is striking.
Icíar-Bollaín.jpg
