''El Perfecto Desconocido'' or "The Perfect Stranger" is a 2011 film that was directed by Toni Bestard and stars
Colm Meaney
Colm J. Meaney (; ; born 30 May 1953) is an Irish actor. Known for his performances across screen and stage, he has received seven nominations from the Irish Film & Television Academy, winning twice for 2001's '' How Harry Became a Tree'', and ...
as the main character Mark O'Reilly. The film was shot in
Mallorca
Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest of the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain, and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, seventh largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
The capital of the island, Palma, Majorca, Palma, i ...
.
Plot
The mysterious arrival of a foreigner (Mark O'Reilly) to a small village in Spain awakes the sudden interest from a diverse group of residents. The residents of the village appear unexpectedly in the stranger's life, believing that he's going to reopen an old shop. In contrast, the real intentions of the stranger are hidden behind an old
Polaroid photo, which has led him to that place in search of answers.
Despite speaking no Spanish, O'Reilly befriends a young man from an overprotective family and a young woman who gets in frequent scrapes and is pursued by the police at one point.
Reception
Elizabeth Kerr of
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
praises the cast for their strong character work, particularly praising Meaney for his "effortlessly understated" performance.
Justin Chang of Variety magazine is positive about the cinematography and the cast, but says it is "not enough to elevate this predictable, tonally strained if technically competent effort."
References
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External links
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2011 films
Spanish comedy-drama films
2010s Spanish films
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