“The image of the suspended monasteries is an allegory of the human soul that has been perpetually suspended between the spiritual and the secular existence,” said Spiros Stathoulopoulos, director ofMetéora.

The film contrasts the carnal desires of a young nun and a monk with the ascetic life of the monasteries set on top of picturesque sandstone hillocks with almost vertical walls. The nuns and the supplies need to be winched up to the convent, the only route to the convent while the monk can climb up to his recess. The harsh monastic life, intended to strengthen and focus all thoughts of piety against the physical pleasures of human life could not quell the basic human nature – to love and be loved.

The simple existence of farmers in the plains with the eternal cycles of birth, milking, music and slaughter in contrast to the ascetic life of prayers and penance at the top of the hills provides one point of view, which can co-exist, rather support each other. But the nun and the monk committed to the vow of celibacy falling in love is forbidden and cannot co-exist with their monastic life. And they must choose another path.

The film has been beautifully photographed, interspersed with animation to accentuate the mood. The slow, relaxed pace of life in the monasteries and the village is reflected in the deliberate and slow pace of the film. The film has the quality to cross all limitations of time – it could have taken place in the middle ages, or now.

The Childish Games by Antonio Chavarrias presents another side of timelessness. Childish pranks leading to the death of a small girl revisits Daniel when he agrees to offer temporary abode to orphaned seven year old Julia. We-know-each-other looks between Julia and Daniel, the play with the crayons and the magic ribbon work vigorously on the guilt of Daniel. He sees things, like the grave in the tub. The little girl rocks the peaceful and affectionate existence of Daniel and Laura. If they have to get back their joyful life, Julia must go. But Laura is terribly attached to the sweet child. Can Daniel remove Julia forcefully out of their life? Can he re-enact on Julia the childish prank, which led to the death of Clara?

The film, in parts moves like a supernatural thriller. But every Spanish supernatural story cannot beOrphanage material.