Robert Pattinson, best known as Edward from the “Twilight” series, has touched the hearts of fans all over the world. Yet, shortly after he struck Twilight fame, he played Salvador Dali in the film “Little Ashes,” released in the U.S. in 2009. The movie, which is rated R, depicts the early life of the surrealist artist, with Pattinson pushing the envelope just as Dali himself pushed boundaries.
Filmed in Spain, the movie begins with a shy and gifted Dali in an artist residency in Madrid. Here, the young artist comes in contact with the residency’s social elite poet Federico García Lorca (Javier Beltran) and aspiring filmmaker Luis Buñuel (Matthew McNulty). Their trio is soon known as the most modern group in all of Madrid. Eventually, the relationship between Dali and Lorca becomes more intimate. The attraction between the two scares them to the point that Dali flees from the advances of the young poet. He moves to France, where he meets Pablo Picasso. At this point in the movie, Dali’s political mind changes. The political climate of the time influenced his work as well as his relationship with Lorca, though Dali may not have been truly committed to those ideals.
“Little Ashes” is interesting and breaks down the heart of an artist dedicated to his work. The film indicates that Dali himself was not just an artist, he was a piece of art himself. His belief in surrealism prompted many artists to discover the true meaning of being a current artist and a marketable asset. While the film may start off rather slow, it was good overall. However, the story could have delved deeper into Dali’s life and less into the life of Lorca, though the poet was seen here as a driving force behind many of Dali’s actions. A 2010 GLAAD Media Award winner, this film will keep you on your toes and prompt you to want more from one of the greatest artists of all time.
