My Loneliness Has Wings Plot Summary
My Loneliness Has Wings is a Spanish drama written and directed by Mario Casas, who is well-known for his work in The Bar, Three Steps Above Heaven, and Cross the Line. The thought-provoking Spanish drama is the story of struggling artist Dan (Oscar Casas), who is forced to steal to make a living with his two friends, Vio (Candela Gonzalez) and Reno (Farid Bechara). Being unsure of his life choices, Dan is sceptical about whether he should pursue his love for art or steal to provide for his Grandma, the only person who has ever loved him.
Why is Dan forced to make a living off stealing?
Dan has always wanted to live an honest life, as he has first-hand experience of the ill effects of crime, thanks to his abusive father. Dan’s life takes a nosedive when his dad is thrown behind bars however, and with no one to take care of him, Dan has to fend for himself and his grandma. Dan feels pressured to provide for his family and eventually has no choice but to steal for a living. However, there are many scenes in the film that suggest that Dan still yearns for an honest job rather than pickpocketing.
In the present, living with Vio, Dan decides to try his luck at a final heist. Both Reno and Vio agree to the plan, but Dane makes it clear that the said heist will be their final. Dan also asks them to steal only the amount they need to sustain themselves for some time. At this point, it seems that Dan has made up his mind to give up his life of crime and look for a career in the art. But when things have gone according to plan, the heist falls through the roof and drastically alters the course of Dan’s life, making it more miserable.
What happened to Reno after the heist?
After the final heist goes haywire, police immediately get hold of Dan, Vio, and Reo. Dan and Vio avoid any friction with the police, but Reno is tased for resisting arrest. While all of this is going on, Dan and Vio make a run for it, but the situation escalates, and Dan hammers a cop with a glass bottle.
Back-up is called, but Dan and Vio manage to flee. As for Reno, he isn’t that fortunate and is caught. Sometime later, Dan and Vio find out that Reno has been let go, and they’ve been slapped with many criminal charges.
Why does Dan burn the graffiti?
At the start of the film, we see Dan being a maestro of graffiti and often investing his spare time in spray painting the mundane walls of his neighborhood. However, one of his graffiti had more significance than the others he had painted. Why? Because it reflects the pain and suffering his father has subjected him to all these years. For the said art, Dan selects a specific wall near the Railway station, and since it is a public property, one will touch or smudge the graffiti off the wall.
However, with time, Dan has to flee town to avoid being arrested. This brings his artistic journey to a halt. We see Dan struggling to earn a living, but thanks to Vio, Dan always has a shoulder to lean on. Even though Dan is a free man, he feels oppressed, and on top of that, he has to make sure that the police aren’t informed of his location. We feel Dan’s pain and know that he’s slowly dying inside, craving for the life he once lived.
When he can’t take it anymore, Dan returns to his hometown, trying his very best not to get arrested. Once home, Dan finally tears off all his paintings and burns the ones he drew to voice the arm-twisting he faced. We see Dan blaming his art for the mess he’s in today. Dan’s under the impression that it is his hunt for excellence in art that has made him poor and dependent. Even though art is something we look upto these days to find peace and pleasure, Dan has to choose between continuing to paint or survival.
How does Dan die?
As the film nears its end, Dan decides never to pick up the paintbrush again and get rid of all his art and equipment. Thereafter, Dan heads back to the hotel and tries to convince Vio to flee to a faraway land with him, but Vio has already made up her mind and wishes to return to her hometown and own her mistakes. However, after Reno’s phone call, they decide to pack up their bags and leave.
While they’re fleeing, they get into a tussle with some gang members who try to force themselves on Vio. Dan fights back and is stabbed. However, the gang members have to flee after hearing a police siren. Vio tries to save Dan, but he dies because of loosing too much blood. Rio returns to her city, and the film ends with her taking up a job at a local restaurant.
My Loneliness Has Wings is a thought-provoking movie that, in more ways than one mirrors the life of every other person on this planet. Everyone, once in a lifetime, comes face to face with situations that question our morality, and the decisions we make in that very moment end up deciding our future. It also takes a heavy toll on our mental health, and in the end, we blame the external factors for our own downfall, much like Dan. He blames his art for the situation he is in, but in reality, it was his decision that brought him here.