Angélica [A Tragedy]

Unless viewers are quite familiar with European theater, Angélica Liddell's name is unlikely to ring a proverbial bell. The Spanish actress/writer/director has been an emotional force through her dramatic works, which tear apart intellectual pretensions with brutal precision. Manuel Fernández-Valdés' documentary marks the first time that Liddell has allowed cameras into her rehearsal process, in this case as she prepares for a 2013 production in Vienna. The film opens with an astonishing monologue by Liddell, who plunges into a supersonic spree of scatological language that ravages women who cocoon themselves within the false comforts of self-pity and clichés about relationships. After that, the film becomes a rather conventional study of Liddell's efforts to coax her actors to a level of dramatic intensity while ensuring that the onstage action flows seamlessly. For some reason, Liddell opts for a musical accompaniment for this production that features an onstage guitarist who plays “House of the Rising Sun” over and over. Liddell is certainly a charismatic personality, and in her quiet moments she radiates a serenity and grace that is far removed from her onstage persona. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)