Another Darien Library announcement:

Monday, July 6th at 1:30 p.m. – The Sea Inside/Mar Adentro (Spanish) (2004) Javier Bardem, Belén Rueda, Lola Dueñas, Mabel Rivera, Celso Bugallo, and Clara Segura; Rated PG-13; 125 minutes; Presented with captions.

Two of the most talented figures in contemporary Spanish cinema — actor Javier Bardem and director Alejandro Amenábar — collaborate for this powerful drama, based on a true story. Ramón Sampedro (Javier Bardem) was a fisherman and part-time poet who, at the age of 26, suffered an accident while diving that left him a bedridden quadriplegic.

Now 54, Ramón must depend on his family to survive — his macho brother José (Celso Bugallo), José’s wife, Manuela (Mabel Rivera), and their son, Javi (Tamar Novas).

While grateful to his family and friends for their help, Ramón was always an active person, and as the years wore on, he has come to see his life as frustrating and pointless and wishes to die with what remains of his dignity.

José, however, is bitterly opposed to the notion of assisted suicide, and Spanish laws would implicate anyone who helped Ramón end his own life, which is something Ramón does not want to do.

Through Gené (Carla Segura), a friend who works with a “Right to Die” organization, Ramón is introduced to Julia (Belen Rueda), a lawyer he hopes will help him persuade the courts to let him end his own life.

As Ramón and Julia work together on his case, Ramón finds himself falling in love with his attorney, who happens to be married.

For more information, please watch the film’s trailer. Check out what else we’re screening.