The short film directed by César and José Esteban Alenda, named ‘El Orden de las Cosas’. Released in 2010, mirrors the gender violence that experienced in some relationships around the world. It’s a short that shows one of the realities that we don’t see and don’t show, and it makes you think and see another perspective of relationships that show to be different in front of people. It stars Manuela Vallès as Julia; Biel Duran, Javier Gutiérrez and Mariano Venancio as Marcos (father) and Luís Jiménez and Junio Valverde as Marquitos. The creation of this short film led them to be nominated to the Goya award for ‘The best fiction short film’ in 2011.

 

‘The Order of Things’ mirrors the false hope of getting out of this cycle. This short film begins with a rather shocking image, which shows Julia sunk into the bathtub with the ring in a corner. The bathtub might represent a prison for Julia, and the ring must represent the union between two people, but in this case it must mean the life sentence for Julia. The water might be a type of protection for Julia, when she is covered he cannot see the belt or her wounds, so she might feel safe inside. We can also see that the tap drips, which must represent time passing by.  Inside the bathtub is the belt of Marcos, who is Julia's husband. He repeatedly asks where his belt is; the belt must represent Marco's violence towards Julia. If we look farther, there is Marquitos, his son. Marquitos, somehow also suffers from psychological manipulation. We can see this reflected when Marcos, the father, breaks his toy and tells him that he will fix it for him. In this case the toy must represent the innocence of Marquitos and the false promises of Marcos. As Marquitos grows up, he realizes what the situation really is at home and decides not to follow this ‘family tradition’ and chooses to leave home. Before leaving, Marquitos tells his mother to go with him, but Julia is not able to do so because she might not have the strength and also the conditions to start a life on her own. This must represent the fact of isolation and take away all its properties. Furthermore, we can observe that Julia, as time passes, doesn't grow old, which must represent that it is never too late to start a new life under your decisions. Another essential part of understanding Mark's behaviur is the family. They see gender violence as a way to represent masculinity in the family and control of the relationship, so the three siblings abuse their partners to get what they want. The end of the video must represent Julia's liberation from the relationship with Marcos. The moment she gives the belt to Marcos and this causes the flood, it's like liberation from what kept her tied up in that relationship. Finally, we see how it comes out of the sea, which must represent Julia's freedom, a new opportunity for her, and there are also more bathtubs with hanging belts. This must represent gender violence that is present in more than one relationships, and that cases like Julia's is one of all there are.

 

I find the way the Esteban Alenda brothers directed this short film admirable: they managed to move the spectators into the story and makes us empathize with Julia, Marcos or Marquitos. This film is thought-provoking on how many people suffer from this type of violence and how far it can go. In addition, the way they don’t specify the ending and let you figure it out is a way to make you create that ending, according to your reasoning, your feeling or your imagination. It is a fact that I find very original and that creates more intrigue. The story of this film catches you, provoking a variety of emotions at once. I found it very original, the way they represent gender violence though many signs without needing to show physical abuse, and that the viewer is able to identify them. I also think that the way they teach that small signs are gender violence alert, and that there is no need for physical abuse, is a way of conveying to people that they might be going through it, and they don’t realize it. In this way they are giving a message that do not wait, at the first sign you have to be alert. The thespian’s performances are captivating, the ability they have to convey what the actor really feels, and that the spectator is able to receive it is something that not everyone is able to do. In my opinion, Julia’s performance is the hardest of all. Getting to convey what she feels with the body language only, without speaking, is something very difficult to do, but Manuela Valles managed to do it. Regarding the stage where the whole story takes place, I think it’s a little dull. In reference to the fact that Julia is the whole movie inside the bathtub seems excessive, because she could have changed the stage. But, contradicting myself, I also think that the fact that Julia is in the bathtub and also naked, is another way of looking at the story and makes you empathize with it, in reference to the vulnerability and the lack of privacy. The soundtrack I think helps you move into the situation, get into the story really and live it as if you were there. I think it’s melancholic and heartbreaking, it helps make the situation sadder. Finally, I also wanted to highlight the script. I think it’s very smart when it comes to creating a movie, the fact that Julia, for example, doesn’t have a script is a way to catch the spectator’s attention because it’s not something usual, although sometimes it could be confusing. 

 

All in all, after seeing and reviewing the film I would say that the film makes your skin tingle and a roller coaster of emotions take over you. The film is a worthwhile watch, although at the beginning and especially at the end it can be a bit confusing. I must definitely recommend this film, because it changes your vision and opinion of what gender violence really is. It shows a reality that many do not see and that many others live unhappily. I think that is a basic film that everyone must see, because it conveys a lot of values and represents something that’s unusual. To do good, you also have to know what is wrong, and I believe it’s a film that knows how to transmit and represent it very well.