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Abre los ojos
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Abre los ojos (1997) More at IMDbPro »

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Abre los ojos (1997) -- A former womanizer, disfigured in a car crash, has trouble distinguishing dreams
from reality.
Abre los ojos (1997) -- A very handsome man finds the love of his life, but he suffers an accident and needs to have his face rebuilt by surgery after it is severely disfigured.

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   19,725 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 5% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Alejandro Amenábar (writer)
Mateo Gil (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Open Your Eyes on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 December 1997 (Spain) more
Plot:
A very handsome man finds the love of his life, but he suffers an accident and needs to have his face rebuilt by surgery after it is severely disfigured. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
5 wins & 11 nominations more
User Comments:
Just great entertainment from beginning to end more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Eduardo Noriega ... César

Penélope Cruz ... Sofía
Chete Lera ... Antonio
Fele Martínez ... Pelayo
Najwa Nimri ... Nuria
Gérard Barray ... Duvernois
Jorge de Juan ... Encargado L.E.
Miguel Palenzuela ... Commisario
Pedro Miguel Martínez ... Médico Jefe
Ion Gabella ... Recluso paranoico
Joserra Cadiñanos ... Guardia

Tristán Ulloa ... Camarero
Pepe Navarro ... Presentador T.V.
Jaro ... Médico 1
Walter Prieto ... Médico 2
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Open Your Eyes (UK) (USA)
Apri gli occhi (Italy)
El contrato (Spain) (working title)
Ouvre les yeux (France)
Permanent Midnight (USA)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for some strong sexuality, language and some violence.
Runtime:
117 min
Country:
Spain | France | Italy
Language:
Spanish
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:18 | France:U | Germany:16 (video premiere) | Hong Kong:IIB | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Finland:K-15
Filming Locations:
Madrid, Spain
Company:
Canal+ España more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The film's title translates to "open your eyes," which is a repeated motif. more
Goofs:
Continuity: As César runs on an "empty" street at the beginning of the film, three people can be seen. One, a man in a blue shirt, standing in the bottom right corner of the frame, and two other people on a balcony above him. more
Quotes:
Pelayo: Did you screw her?
César: Screw who?
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in Spanish Movie (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Yo mismo more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
24 out of 29 people found the following comment useful:-
Just great entertainment from beginning to end, 26 July 2004
8/10
Author: raymond-15 from Australia

Although the plot is confusing at times, a second viewing helps to untangle the convoluted story about dreams and reality. Most of the time we are not sure if what we are watching is really happening or whether it is a profoundly disturbing nightmare. Cesar (Edouardo Noriega) whose head is badly fractured in a high speed car crash quite understandably has blurred recollections of events involving his good buddy Pelayo and his girl friends Sofia and Nuria. As his doctor explains: In dreams characters are often substituted, one for the other.

There is much I like about this film. First of all I like the script. The dialogue between Sofia and Cesar at first meeting and afterwards is so natural, so believable. The four main characters are absolutely charming and have a rapport between each other that is rarely seen in films. This is either good casting or good acting, or maybe a bit of both. As the story unfolds we are completely absorbed. This is true entertainment on the highest level. O.K. we may not be fully cognisant of what is happening at times, but we glue ourselves to the screen expecting that an explanation will come in due course.

There are some chilling lines e.g. Just before Nuria steps on the accelerator: "Do you believe in God?"

There are some mysterious questions put to Cesar e.g. "Who is Eli? You called out 'Eli...Eli' while you were dreaming. Is she a girl?" No such person. What then? The mystery deepens.

There is quality photography in the film. The rain in the park. And before that the reflections of foliage flashing in the car windows with glimpses of tense faces.

The make-up team too does a great job On Cesar's handsome face. What a transformation!

On top of all this we get a lesson on cryonics and the possibility of immortality. What more do you want for your money?

Take it from me. This is a film you must see.

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