Survival films can get stale quickly. It’s difficult as a viewer to be enthralled in a yet another concept that places someone in unimaginable circumstances that leaves them stranded fighting for their life. What the newly released Netflix film Nowhere does well is take the concept and pair it with a likeable character you’ll be rooting for the entire film as you watch her emotionally gripping journey of survival.
Directed by Albert Pintó (Money Heist, Sky Rojo), Nowhere is a Spanish drama written by Ernest Riera (47 Meters Down, The Last Dolphin King), Seanne Winslow (The Falconer), Teresa de Rosendo (The Girl in the Mirror, Centro médico) and original screenplay by Indiana Lista. The film is set in a dystopian future where women and children are being slaughtered in a war-torn Spain.
Anna Castillo (Holy Camp!) plays Mia, a very pregnant refugee opposite Tamar Novas (¡Salta!) who plays her partner Nico. They spend all their money to flee the country alongside other desperate people by hiding in maritime containers aboard a cargo ship with hopes of a better life.
The tension of the film is set up early as you watch these people desperately try to escape, and it builds throughout the film as things go from bad to worse for Mia. When she’s separated from Nico and her container capsizes, Mia is left alone and lost at sea where she gives birth and must fight for the survival of her and her child’s lives.
Nowhere places viewers on a rollercoaster of emotions as the duration of the film takes place in the singular location of the cargo container and stays with Mia and her newborn for the most part. It’s best to go into this film with just the base knowledge. Any further exploration will spoil the twists of film. The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 49 minutes and has moments that are dull and redundant with the location in mind.
Anna Castillo is the star of Nowhere and not just because she’s the only character we spent any real time getting to know on screen, but it’s what she brings to Mia. The character goes through an array of stages coming to terms with her circumstances while impressively maneuvering the unbelievable obstacles. You will root for Mia throughout the journey and become impressed with her innovation of survival; although there could have been some plot in the film to indicate how Mia garnered her survival skills. Or maybe it was just a mother’s will to keep herself and her child safe.
The plot of Nowhere is simple, but it has moments that will have you holding your breath as Mia faces new challenges at sea. The cinematography work by Unax Mendia created some beautiful scenes on screen despite being in the confined space made by productions designer Dídac Bono. Nowhere is a captivating survival film that has the heart and drama to compete with some of the best in the genre.
Nowhere is streaming now on Netflix.
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