Title: Most Beautiful Island
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Director: Ana Asensio
Starring: Ana Asensio, Natasha Romanova, David Little
Runtime: 1 hr 20 mins

What It Is: Luciana (Asensio) is a young Spanish immigrant struggling to make ends meet in New York City. She’s working multiple jobs and has no car and no money. When a friend of hers Olga (Romanova), herself an immigrant from Russia tells her of an opportunity to make some actual money. Details on the opportunity are vague but Olga has assured Luciana that she won’t have to do anything she doesn’t want to. Which of course could be any manner of odd job.

What We Think: There’s a slow build here that seems to escalate. Asensio builds that suspense through patience and not revealing too much at one time. There’s a certain vibe given off in the film. One that the world is against you. You, of course, being Luciana. She has so much going on in her life and none of it is particularly good. I really have to credit Asensio for doing it all in this one. Writing, directing and starring. She seems to get it. What it takes to craft together the story, narrative, and performance.

Our Grade: B-, There’s some good storytelling done here by Asensio. I think she does an amazing job of staying focused on what story to tell and who the focus should remain on. I can recommend this film but warn you all that it is by no means for everyone. It’s a slower burning narrative. Its a film one could call boring. Those are the people I don’t want to know because they won’t have the patience to let a story marinate. Check it out because this one should be available on VOD near you and this is one to grab.