Diego Luna's latest directorial effort, 'Ashes,' fails to find its narrative footing, despite strong performances from lead actors Anna Diaz and Sergio Bautista.
Strong Performances Amidst Structural Flaws
The film centers on 21-year-old Lucila, portrayed by Diaz, a Mexican nanny navigating her life in Madrid with her younger brother Diego, played by Bautista. Adapted from Brenda Navarro's novel 'Ceniza en la boca,' or 'A Mouthful of Ash,' the film attempts to capture the struggles of its characters but often leaves important details by the wayside.
While Luna draws impressive performances from his cast, particularly Diaz, who embodies Lucila with exuberance and emotional depth, the film's structural issues undermine the potential impact of these portrayals. The narrative skips through time without allowing significant moments to resonate, leaving viewers to piece together the story's emotional core.
Narrative Gaps and Missed Opportunities
Luna, known for his role in 'Star Wars' spin-off 'Andor,' falters in his fifth directorial outing, as the film's pacing and narrative coherence suffer. The story rapidly shifts from Lucila and Diego's childhood abandonment to Lucila's adult life, glossing over key developments and emotional beats. As a result, the film feels more like a collection of disconnected scenes rather than a cohesive narrative.
The film follows Lucila's life as an au pair and delivery driver while exploring her relationships within a community of Latin American nannies. Despite the potential for rich storytelling, the film only skims the surface of these dynamics and family complexities. Information is presented abruptly, with little explanation or emotional weight, leaving Diaz to shoulder the burden of conveying depth through her reactions alone.
Visual and Tonal Inconsistencies
Luna's direction often lacks focus, with the camera frequently gravitating towards Diaz, seemingly unsure of where else to turn. This indecisive framing extends to other characters, such as Lucila's mother, played by Adriana Paz, who appears with a noncommittal presence that undermines the potential power of the film's visual storytelling.
In the film's third act, Lucila returns to Mexico for a somber family event. However, the shift in tone and setting fails to connect the film's fragmented narrative threads. While the journey is physically understandable, the emotional arc remains vague and unimpactful, despite Diaz's efforts to bring life to her character's experiences on the margins.
Conclusion
Ultimately, 'Ashes' struggles to deliver a cohesive and emotionally resonant story. Luna's strengths in directing actors are evident, but the film's narrative shortcomings and visual inconsistencies prevent it from achieving its full potential. 'Ashes' serves as a reminder of the challenges in adapting complex literary works to the screen, where the emotional and thematic richness can often get lost in translation.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/ashes-review-1236748971/
