There are a few films that make you evolve or mature once you watch them because you are forced to put yourself in another person’s position and deal with problems that do not directly affect you. One such film is The Sea Inside (2004) directed by Alejandro Amenábar which won Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
The film chronicles the true events of Ramón Sampedro’s decade-long struggle to get the right to end his life. Javier Bardem plays poet and author Ramon Sampedro, who broke his neck while swimming 28 years ago and is now quadriplegic. Thus, his obsession with the sea is the source of the film’s name. Though it is the sea that made his life miserable, he still adores it.
Ramón is seen lying in an upstairs room at his brother’s farmhouse in Spain, unable to move anything but his head. We see his struggles to cope and adjust to his circumstances quite realistically, as well as his realisation that he simply cannot continue in his condition. Thus, he fights for the right to end his life.
However, euthanasia is illegal, and because he is so adored by his family, nobody will listen to his requests. He has fought for it for over 30 years, taking on both the church and the government in the process.
It also tells the story of Ramón’s relationships with Rosa (Dueas), a local who tries to convince him that life is worth living, and Julia (Rueda), a lawyer who supports his cause.
Ramón taught everyone he knew about the purpose, significance, and beauty of life despite his wish to die. The man is a charismatic with a fascinating personality. There are moments where you want Ramón to like himself and help him live. That is the kind of impact he has on everyone’s life. He positively influences and inspires everyone around him, and as a result is surrounded by love.
The Sea Inside becomes a bitter yet joyful experience for viewers as it portrays the themes of freedom, love, family bond, the beauty of life etc. Bardem delivers a performance that is both brilliant and motivating. Ramon’s misery may be felt by the audience thanks to close-up cinematography.
It forces us to consider our views on euthanasia. I was never sure if I was supposed to support Ramon in his cause or be horrified by it. In the end, The Sea Inside shifts from being a film questioning whether a guy has the right to commit suicide to becoming a film that merely poses the question, “What would you do in this situation?”