In my experience watching all kinds of movies, I have come to the conclusion that Spanish cinema usually goes big even with independent productions and, almost always, brings interesting proposals that may leave you wanting more. In the case of The Coffee Table (AKA La Mesita del Comedor, in Spanish), you may find yourself begging for the train to stop because of the carefully planned derailment to come.

Jesús (David Pareja) and María (Estefanía de los Santos) are a couple who make it difficult for the audience to define if they are happy living in constant debate and the only thing that keeps them together is their newborn son. Jesús is about to buy a coffee table that doesn’t fulfill María’s taste, so she finds herself objecting to prevent the piece of furniture from being displayed in her living room. Once María gives up, Jesús comes home with the table in a cardboard box— apparently the table needs to be assembled, just like his new life. Jesús is excited about having the new coffee table ready for a couple of visitors later in the day, and María is upset so she decides to go shopping to prepare dinner. What happens after this is just the beginning of chaos.

The Coffee Table is one of those movies where you can’t say much without revealing half of its plot, but you can describe how you felt watching it. It’s the type of film that’ll send you into a state of shock in a matter of minutes as you think “well, that escalated quickly,” to find some comic relief during one of the most chilling moments. I’m conflicted by it because I don’t know how to recommend a film that’s good, but at the same time could be traumatizing for some viewers. I’m the kind of person you might find laughing at the movies while watching someone get their leg scraped with a cheese grater. But, when the plot takes ground or inspiration from events that could happen, something shifts out of place to bring an uncomfortable, yet uncommon, feeling of vivid real-life nightmares.

The cast is small, yet effective. The way in which each character is personified is thanks to the skills that each artist has and, although I have no reference to the director, due to the notorious drive of the director. There are many details that do not go unnoticed, and it shows an impressive control over the direction of Caye Casas— it is evident the manner in which the material has been carefully narrated visually and verbally.

How can you recommend a good movie that has made you uncomfortable until it broke something inside you? This is the prerogative The Coffee Table could leave you once you reach the end credits. Is it good for its technique or for the strong and harsh plot it develops? It’ll depend on the eyes with which you look at the screen.

9 OUT OF 10 SCREWS