Through My Window: Across the Sea (2023) Netflix Review: Netflix’s sequel to its 2022 raunchy Spanish erotic romance drama, “Through My Window,” is a little more bearable than its predecessor. However, it is still a vapid, meandering continuation of its unbearably unoriginal story. Titled “Through My Window: Across the Sea,” the sequel tries to fabricate more drama, with its camera chartering between beautiful human bodies and pristine water bodies. But its shallow characters ensure that “Across the Sea” struggles in its attempt to infuse adolescent pangs with steamy young-adult romance.
“Across the Sea” sees the return of Raquel (Clara Galle) and Ares (Julio Pena). In “Through My Window,” after numerous flips and flops, the two did reconcile and start their relationship. In the climactic scene, Ares left for Stockholm, where he got enrolled in a medical school. Raquel fully supported that decision, having played a major role in making Ares realize his dreams. Raquel, on her part, perhaps emboldened by her relationship with Ares, took her first step towards a career in literature.
Now, “Across the Sea” starts with the same gusto as the one its predecessor ended with. However, that only lasts for a couple of minutes. The long-distance nature of the relationship starts to take its toll. It is perhaps understandable for a couple that could not keep their hands off each other. Inevitably, both seem to be drawn toward other sexual contenders. For Raquel, the constant presence of her friends, Daniela (Natalia Azahara) and Yoshi (Guillermo Lasheras), help her keep somewhat focused. However, Ares seems lost in a new city without any friends. Understandably he makes some new friends, and things get a little out of hand. It is implied that he sleeps with one of his newfound lady friends.
Perhaps driven by guilt, Ares plans a beachside getaway for Raquel. Obviously, various circumstances ensure that all the young, sexually charged characters get assembled in the same place. Ares’ two brothers, Artemis (Eric Masip) and Apolo (Hugo Arbues) of the Hidalgo family join Ares and Raquel with their respective lovers. Ares’ brothers are also struggling in their love lives. Artemis finds it difficult to commit to his relationship with Claudia, the family servant. He is afraid of what their father, the patriarch of the Hidalgo family, would say. Young Apolo is not as sexually adventurous as his girlfriend, Daniela. And that is causing a little bit of friction.
In this already overcrowded ensemble, a few more characters provide different angles to every romantic relationship in this film, especially to the lead pairs. It appears the writer intends to throw as many ignorant and sexually active teens and tweens in one place as possible. Parallels can be drawn with the way similarly themed reality shows are penned. It works to some extent. “Across the Sea” does become a little less flesh show and a little more “August: Osage Country.” But only just.
Like in the first film, Clara Galle proves to be a bright spot in this franchise. Her determined commitment to her drab Raquel Mendoza’s character is commendable. Julio Pena is passable as Ares. The supporting cast is just about good. The actors, however, are limited by their hardly-etched-out characters. “Across the Sea” struggles to make us take it seriously, even when it commits to doing so. The climax, especially, seems a swerve towards a different turn. A tragedy befalls, and our characters must push through it. However, everything preceding the tragedy betrays the significance of the event.
Director Marcal Fores and Cinematographer Marc Miro fully utilize the beauty they were handed. The intimate scenes are well-shot, and so are the scenes on the sea. Along with editor Veronica Callon, Fores provides some crass transformative simile shots and at least one poignant one. There was one shot where Yoshi’s hand cuts to a visually similar hand of Raquel. This was a subtle transformation highlighting Raquel’s state at that moment.
“Through My Window,” in all frankness, was a drag. At times, it made me thankful that I was watching that on a platform where I could fast forward and not in a cinema hall without that functionality. Overall, “Across the Sea” was not as bad as that, but I doubt it would garner any new fans who were not already infatuated with the series.
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