Hola!
It’s that time of the year again. From 23 April until 6 May, a slice of Iberia comes to the Capital in the form of the annual Spanish Film Festival run.
Touring the country is a slew of award winning and critically acclaimed movies which have seen a success both locally and internationally; some even to the scale of Academy Award level. Special guests, including Elena Anaya (currently filming opposite Bryan Cranston), will grace various screenings
The Spanish are known for their passionate and heartfelt tales, with a healthy dash of comedy. As with many Mediterranean countries, all you need to do is barely scratch the surface to discover an underlying political message, but that doesn’t mean they are heavy or boring stories.
Not in the slightest! One example was the media preview at Palace Electric Cinema: Wild Tales. Damián Szifrón presents an anthology of six short films interlinked with the theme of vengeance. The films cross all genres and each story provides a heightened sense of raised stakes.
The fact that as an audience we know that we’re only getting 20 minutes of each story keeps your eyes glued to the screen to find out what’s next (well, that and the need to read the Spanish subtitles!). However, the mark of a good film comes in its ability to tell a story that can be interpreted with visuals. These shorts are concise and beautiful each in their own way, with familiar shot styles and setups the only other recurring theme other than retribution. One in particular is a penchant for attaching the camera to inanimate objects as they move (i.e. a door opening and closing).
The shorts span over a variety of different scenarios from the mundane life of a bar waitress, to a case of Road-Rage taken to the extreme. The more notable and clever storylines involve a couple during their wedding reception, and an unfortunate situation on a passenger plane. For gravitas, one film outliers the others vastly, opting for a more heavy, dark tone, as we watch the lives of a family dealing with the immediate aftermath of a hit-and-run accident.
Wild Tales is the winner of over 10 awards including Best Film at the Argentine Academy, Best Foreign Film at the Goyas (Spain’s ‘Oscars’) and even a nomination for Best Foreign Film Nomination at the actual, American Oscars – it is clear Wild Tales has had a lasting effect on critics and viewers alike.
The ideas are simple, yet intricate, with punchy dialogue and the aforementioned impressive cinematography. The good news is that this is just one of 38 films the Spanish Film Festival will play across its three week run, and a great way to check out another style of storytelling if you’re waiting for the big Hollywood films continue their lull in the build to their summer blockbuster season.
Click here to see the programme and book your tickets now.
To Win tickets to see Festival feature, Spot, click here!
