One of the most deeply personal and moving films of this year, Close Your Eyes, is the fourth feature film by Víctor Erice, a filmmaker who has created three masterpieces over fifty years: The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), El Sur (1983), and Quince Tree of the Sun (1992). Thirty-three years ago in 1990, director Miguel Garay halted the filming a movie when his friend and lead actor, Julio Arenas, disappeared suddenly. After watching the editing footage, Garay sets out to find Julio himself. Within this beautiful narrative of exploration, the director’s quest extends beyond locating his vanished friend; he searches for the spirit of cinema that has gradually faded within himself. Director Erice quietly observes the disappearance of traditional cinema — film reels, editing rooms, and now abandoned old theaters. The most moving moment arrives when Ana Torrent, who starred in The Spirit of the Beehive at the age of seven, returns before the director’s camera. With Close Your Eyes, Víctor Erice adds the most poetic and beautiful work to his filmography and film history. (SEO Seunghee)