One small complaint: The tiny subtitles were placed on the bottom edge of the picture (plenty of neglected space in the letterboxed area), and unfortunately they were impossible to read any time the background was the slightest bit light-colored.

Mar Adentro is spellbinding. Amenabar has skillfully crafted a film that gives a deep understanding of the sorrow and tragedy experienced by a man who became a quadreplegic in the prime of his life, and who fought for nearly 30 years for the right not to live a life he no longer valued. The love and affection demonstrated by each of the characters is pure and true, each one expressing it as uniquely as these feelings are expressed in our real lives.
The film is beautiful to look at and not in the least depressing – sad at times, yes, but not depressing – especially in the parts where you might expect it to bring you down.
A must-see.

wow. awesome director

and i thought his desire for death had something to do the with the possibilities for masculinity of the time and place.