Jonathan Cenzual Burley’s modern-day western stars craggy-featured Miguel Martín as Anselmo, a not-so-simple shepherd living with his dog and flock of sheep under the massive prairie skies of contemporary Spain. An ascetic soul who doesn’t own a TV, phone or computer but enjoys discussing Dickens with the sweet librarian in town (Maribel Iglesias), Anselmo can’t see why he should sell his land so developers can erect an estate and sports centre. This angers his neighbours – especially slaughterhouse owner Julián (Alfonso Mendiguchía) – who desperately want to flog off their adjoining plots. Anselmo’s intransigence means hostilities soon escalate, inevitably turning violent.
The script by Burley (who also shot, edited and co-produced the film) can be more than a little jamón-fisted, and the acting from some of the supporting players has its own porcine whiff. But there’s admirable craftsmanship in the use of sound, music and light, especially in the final stretch, when skies glower with magic-hour hues and sheep bleat worriedly.
