DICTADO / DICTATION / CHILDISH GAMES

Spain, 2012, 95 minutes, Colour.
Juan Diego Botto, Barbara Lennie, Magica Perez.
Directed by Antonio Chavarrias.

A small film by festival standards. The Spanish title does not quite do justice to the themes while the English title does – ultimately revealing a deadly secret in past childish games.

Daniel is in a relationship with Laura, a fellow-teacher, who wants children. Their happy and busy life is interrupted when a childhood friend seeks out X. He is clearly demented, urging Daniel to go to see his young daughter. Daniel wants to get rid of him and recommends a visit to a psychiatrist. When the friend slits his wrists while in the bath with his daughter, Laura suggests that they attend the funeral. She then accepts care of the little girl, Julia, until a relative comes forward. She is completely happy looking after Julia.

It is not the same with Daniel. Rather, Julia keeps reminding him of the younger sister of his dead friend. Flashbacks indicate that the two boys were responsible for the death of this young sister. Daniel’s mood darkens. He drinks, feels haunted by the events of the past which are shown in more detail. This leads to quite a melodramatic ending, the results of the vicious outcomes of a guilty conscience.

Character studies with the touch of the ghostly.

1. A thriller in the Hitchcock vein? Homage to Hitchcock?

2. The settings: homes, schools, holiday home, the woods, the cliffs? Atmospheric? The tone of the musical score? Its insistent tones?

3. The title, the little girl and her dictation, her song about nouns and verbs? The English title and its being more apt?

4. The prologue, the boy and his father, his comments – the irony that it was Daniel when he was a boy?

5. Daniel as an adult, sympathetic, in his relationship with Maria? At home, going to school, their both working at the school? His interactions with the children? Entirely sympathetic? - and the audience not prepared for what was to be revealed?

6. Maria, not able to have children? Hopes for adoption?

7. Mario, his arrival at the school, wanting to talk with Daniel? The background of their past, together as boys, their parents possibly marrying? The younger sister? Daniel wanting Mario to have psychiatric treatment? Mario and his intensity?

8. Mario going home, the little girl in the bath, his getting in, slitting his wrists?

9. Daniel and Maria, their discussions, Daniel seeming innocent? Going to the funeral? Taking the little girl, until relatives came forward?

10. The flashback, the two boys, out together, playing with Clara? Daring her to go into the hole, their covering her with dirt, their killing her? Denial? The reaction of Mario’s mother? - and in later life, her continued madness?

11. With Julia at home, Maria and her love for the girl, caring for her? Daniel becoming more disturbed, suspicious of the girl, the ribbon in her hair, calling her Clare?

12. The situation getting worse at home, Daniel retreating into mental disturbance? The decision to go to the holiday house? Setting themselves up?

13. Daniel, his being obsessed with Julia? Julia, the innocent little girl – but the evocation of Clara?

14. Daniel taking Julia out into the woods, hitting Maria, her collapse, her quick recovery? Daniel threatening Julia, calling her Clare? Maria and her arrival, the struggle with Daniel, his going over the cliff?