The Oak's Shadow | Telescope Film
The Oak's Shadow

The Oak's Shadow (La sombra del roble)

  • Spain
  • 2015
  • · 72m

Director Nicolás Saldivia
Cast Daniel Candia, Julio Jung, Francesca Poloni, Vicente Almuna, Victoria Freire, Felipe Gómez Gutiérrez, Daniela Castillo Toro, Varinia Aguilera, Raúl López, Lucía Troncoso
Genre Drama

Jorge, a biology teacher, lost his wife 5 years ago, and has not been able to overcome his grief. His children consider their grandfather Roberto as their main father figure. Everything changes when the latter is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and they have to put him in a rest-home. It is then that Jorge reconsiders his damaged relationship with his father and children.

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What are critics saying?

100

The Observer (UK) by Mark Kermode

With this terrific feature debut, Anvari lifts the veil on his heroines’ hidden lives and leaves us all dreaming with our eyes wide open.

100

Total Film by Jamie Graham

Full of shivers and subtext, this is scarily good. One of the films – horror or otherwise – of the year.

100

RogerEbert.com by Sheila O'Malley

Under the Shadow, a Farsi-language debut feature written and directed by Babak Anvari, creates a world where reality itself is suspect. In a year filled with great first features, add Under the Shadow to the list.

100

Los Angeles Times by Noel Murray

The movie is first fascinating, then terrifying.

100

CineVue by Martyn Conterio

Under the Shadow is not only perfectly paced, the storytelling and plotting is emotionally gripping. The director also uses setting and location, composition and framing like a master of horror.

100

Empire by Kim Newman

A quality ghost story with an unusual backdrop and great performances.

91

IndieWire by Eric Kohn

Under the Shadow smartly observes the emotions stirred up by a world defined by restrictions, and the terrifying possibility that they might be inescapable.

91

Consequence by Michael Roffman

The Iranian filmmaker wisely uses the genre to work through themes of oppression, rebellion, and femininity without ever politicizing the film. This is prestige horror, the kind with tricks and treats that arrive with purpose and linger for years.

90

The Hollywood Reporter by David Rooney

Anvari deftly builds and sustains tension throughout, crafting a horror movie that respects genre conventions...while firmly establishing its own distinctive identity.

83

The Film Stage by John Fink

Under The Shadow is a rare genre film of emotional and political complexity, one that’s well-acted and directed, even if the psychological horror is front and center.