At the 72nd edition of San Sebastian International Film Festival, a total of twenty-one feature films comprise Made in Spain, the non-competitive section showcasing a selection of the year’s Spanish films.
The world premiere of Tiempo de silencio y destrucción, by Joan López Lloret will open Made in Spain. On the 60th anniversary of the accident and the 100th year since his birth, the documentary follows the children of writer and psychiatrist Luis Martín-Santos, to reconstruct the writer, the psychiatrist, the man behind the work that turned him into a literary promise.
Alba Sotorra will close the section with the world premiere of Break a Leg (Mucha mierda), a documentary about the 1975 actors’ strike told first-hand by figures such as Marisa Paredes, Rocío Dúrcal, Ana Belén, Tina Sainz, Juan Diego and José Sacristán.
San Sebastian Festival Made in Spain 2024 Lineup
Tiempo de silencio y destrucción
Joan López Lloret (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Opening Film
January 1964, the author of the novel Tiempo de silencio, Luis Martín-Santos, dies in a tragic car crash. On the 60th anniversary of the accident and the 100th year since his birth, we follow his children on a voyage to reconstruct the writer, the psychiatrist, the man behind the work that turned him into a literary promise. A journey through the figure of Martín-Santos, his peculiar view of post-war Spain and his work hidden for years based on partly unpublished texts.
Mucha mierda / Break a Leg
Alba Sotorra (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Closing Film
4th February 1975. It’s the first day of the historic actors strike that would bring the country’s theatre activity to a halt for nine days. They demand one day off a week. What started out as a demand develops into political challenge. Concha Velasco, Ana Belén, Tina Sainz, Juan Diego and José Sacristán are some of the artists who risked their careers and their freedom. This is the story, narrated by its protagonists, as it has never been told before.
As Neves
Sonia Méndez (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: Andrea Fernández, David Rodríguez, Antía Mariño, Xacobe Bruña, Irene Rodríguez, Diego Caro, Santi Carmena, Jennifer Soto, Adriana Fernández, Lucía Veiga, Luisa Merelas
As Neves is a village in the Galician mountains where everybody knows everybody. On carnival night a group of partying teens take mushrooms for the first time. The next morning they waken to a snow storm only to realise that Paula, one of the girls at the party, is missing. Meanwhile, the village is cut off from the outside and the internet is down. Finding her becomes increasingly urgent. An investigation is launched that will bring about a profound change in their lives and in their relationship with the world.
Casa en flames / A House on Fire
Dani de la Orden (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain – Italy
Cast: Emma Vilarasau, Enric Auquer, Maria Rodríguez Soto, Clara Segura, José Pérez-Ocaña, Macarena García
Montse is beside herself with excitement as she gets ready to spend a weekend with the whole family in their house on the Costa Brava. Long divorced, her ex has a new partner, while her children are grown up and have been living their lives without her for some time now, but nothing can dampen her spirits; she’s been waiting too long for this time to come, dreaming about it for too long: this weekend will be a perfect weekend, come what may… even if she has to burn everything to make it happen.
Dragonkeeper
Salvador Simó (Spain), Li Jianping (China)
Country(ies) of production: Spain – China
These are dark times in the ancient Chinese empire. Dragons, once friends and wise allies of men, have been hunted down for years and thrown into ironclad dungeons. In a faraway fortress in the mountain regions, a young slave girl helps the last living dragon to escape his captivity and joins him in a quest to retrieve his most precious gift: the last dragon egg, stolen by an evil sorcerer who wants its power to achieve immortality.
El hombre bueno
David Trueba (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: Jorge Sanz, Macarena Sanz, Vito Sanz
Vera, Juan and their daughter Manuela travel to Mallorca to spend Easter in their idyllic seaside home. The place is owned by Alonso, Juan’s former colleague, who lives there, having somewhat retired from the world after losing his wife in an accident. Vera and Juan have made the decision to divorce and want Alonso to act as the good man, a mediator to help them in this very complicated process. But in the ensuing days everything spirals in different directions, out of their control.
Flores del cemento / Concrete Flowers
Luismi Pantiga (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: Eduardo Castejón, Luismi Pantiga, Ángel Pantiga, Marcos Gutiérrez, Jorge Corostola, Jonathan Álvarez, Paula Amado, Alfredo Cadavieco
Released from jail after 10 years behind bars, Adry discovers that his teenage brother Álvaro is keeping bad company and following in his steps. Adry will try to win back his family and take care of his brother while people from his past file by to try and coax him back into the world of drugs, wrongdoing and crime. Flores del cemento / Concrete Flowers is a tale of redemption, the portrait of young people who get by in a world of violence and decadence.
Justicia artificial
Simón Casal (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain – Portugal
Cast: Verónica Echegui, Tomar Novas, Alba Galocha, Alberto Ammann
The Spanish government announces a referendum to approve an Artificial Intelligence system in the justice administration with the promise of automating and depoliticising the legal process, in practical terms by replacing the judges in courts throughout the country. The referendum sparks a fierce election campaign confronting the Government, in line with the creative technology of the system, and the legal profession, who defend the human nature of justice.
La abadesa / Holy Mother
Antonio Chavarrías (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain – Belgium
Cast: Daniela Brown , Blanca Romero , Carlos Cuevas
In the 9th century, 17-year-old Emma is named Abbess with the intention of repopulating and Christianising border territories in conflict with the Moors. Arriving at the abbey, she will have to overcome the lack of trust awakened by a woman determined to complete her mission, leading to her confrontation with the nobility, peasants and even the other nuns. Despite it all, Emma will prove that it is possible to challenge the established power structures, even if she will pay dearly for her success…
La casa
Álex Montoya (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: David Verdaguer, Luis Callejo, Óscar De la Fuente, María Romanillos, Lorena López, Marta Belenguer, Jordi Aguilar, Olivia Molina, Miguel Rellán, Tosca Montoya
When their father dies, three siblings gather at the family home where they spent their summers as children. They have to decide what to do with the house, something that will turn out to be more difficult than expected. With a sweet & sour tone and dashes of humour, La casa talks about the family, inheritance and the unstoppable passing of time, all under the watchful eyes of the house.
Los pequeños amores / Little Loves
Celia Rico Clavellino (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain – France
Cast: María Vázquez, Adriana Ozores
Teresa changes her holiday plans to help her mother when the latter suffers a minor accident. Mother and daughter will spend a stifling summer together, unable to agree on even the smallest things. But the forced coexistence will stir up more than expected and, in the warm evenings, Teresa will live revealing moments with her mother.
Mamífera
Liliana Torres (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: Maria Rodríguez Soto, Enric Auquer
Lola lives happily with her partner, Bruno, until an unexpected pregnancy throws their plans to the wind. Although she has always known that motherhood wasn’t for her, now Lola feels called into question by social expectations as she faces her internal fears. During the three days she has to wait for her appointment at the clinic, Lola approaches friends and family in the endeavour to reaffirm her decision. Bruno hadn’t imagined himself as a father either. Until now.
Nina
Andrea Jaurrieta (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: Patricia López Arnaiz, Darío Grandinetti, Aina Picarolo, Iñigo Aranburu
Nina decides to return to the coastal town where she grew up, with a gun in her bag and a purpose: to take revenge on Pedro, a famous author now receiving tribute from the town. The reconnection with the place of her birth, with her memories of the past and with Blas, a childhood friend, will make her wonder if revenge is her only option.
Norberta
Sonia Escolano (Spain), Belén López Albert (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: Luis Bermejo, Adriana Ozores, Mariona Terés, María Romanillos
Norberto and Maria have been married forever. They live in a working-class district and have known their neighbours for decades, but they’re hiding a secret that only a few are aware of: sometimes, they carry out robberies. The takings bulk out their pensions and allow them to help the odd friend. But Norberto needs a change to feel alive, free, to feel like HERSELF. An unexpected confession that will endanger his whole life and that of those around him.
Orgullo vieja
Chema Rodríguez (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: Rafaela Chaparro, Ángeles Ortega “Kiska”, Pepa Delgado, Esperanza García, Pepi García, Catalina Gaitán, Antonia Cid, Remedios García, Rafael Galán
Pepa, Antoñita, Pepi, Esperanza, Remedios, Kiska, Catalina and Rafaela are women between the ages of 68 and 97 from Seville’s Triana district. All share a dream: they want to be monologuists, to enjoy success in the world of showbusiness and to defend the right of older women to respect and visibility. They have therefore created a show entitled Orgullo vieja. The film follows the process of creating the company, the rehearsals, the premiere in Seville and their travels throughout Andalusia.
Reír, cantar, tal vez llorar / To Laugh, To Sing, Perhaps To Cry
Marc Ferrer (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: Toñi Vargas, Lahcen Ouchad, María Sola, Madame Hiroshima, Júlia Betrian, Azahara Moyano, Eduardo Gión, Pere Vall, Saya Solana, Sandra Soro, Sara Ramos, Marta Balletbò-Coll, Marga Sardà, Rafa Rojas
Toñi, a middle-aged trans woman, prays in church to a miracle-granting saint asking for a boyfriend, and the next thing Lahcen appears in her life, a handsome young immigrant Moroccan boy recently arrived in Barcelona with whom she falls in love. The relationship will spark a tremendous scandal among her community of neighbours, driven by jealousy and mistrust.
Rock Bottom
María Trénor (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain – Poland
Cast: Fermí Herrero Delfà, Laura Casaña Pardo, Omar Sanchís Gomez, Roger Riu Gasso, Lisa Raventós Viñals, Daniel Masalles
A passionate love story inspired in the music and life of Robert Wyatt. Bob and Alif, a young couple of artists, experience the hippie culture of the 70s in Deià. Drugs turn a dream summer into a nightmare, exploring the euphoria and anguish of artistic creation, the fascination for drugs, the falling out with routine, the physical and mental breakdown. A universal tale of the transformative power of art and music.
Saturno
Daniel Tornero (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: Ainhoa Tornero, Javier Hitos, Jose Alberto Tornero, Jesús Tornero, Purificación Almagro, Noelia Tornero, Joaquín Tornero, Maria Vicenta López, Pablo Hitos
In 2018 my grandfather was imprisoned for child sexual abuse and attempted kidnapping. Now I meet him again and confront his gazes, his answers and my own feelings. Meanwhile, my family gathers at the country house and deals with the emotional consequences of growing up under this father figure.
Segundo premio / Saturn Return
Isaki Lacuesta (Spain), Pol Rodríguez (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain – France
Cast: Daniel Ibáñez , Cristalino , Stephánie Magnin , Mafo , Chesco Ruíz, Edu Rejón
Granada, in the late 90s. In full artistic and cultural swing, an indie music group is at its lowest point: the bassist leaves the band looking for his place outside music and the guitar player is caught up in a dangerous spiral of self-destruction. Meanwhile, the singer is faced with a complicated process of writing and recording his third album. Nobody knows that this album will forever change the music scene of the whole country. This is (not) a film about Los Planetas.
Sueños y pan / Dreams and Crumbs
Luis (Soto) Muñoz (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: George Steane, Javier de Luis, Cristina Masoni, Mario Saura
Javi and Dani steal a painting. Suspecting its considerable value, they come up with a plan to sell the work. A plan that goes wrong at every step. Both follow a path of twists and turns forcing attempts to sell it from the outskirts to the city’s most upmarket galleries. The two make their way around the city as their luck runs out, appeasing the moral judgement that the act they have committed entails.
Volveréis / The Other Way Around
Jonás Trueba (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain
Cast: Itsaso Arana, Vito Sanz, Fernando Trueba, Jon Viar, Ana Risueño
SHe and he are on the point of turning 40 and have been together for almost half their lives. Accepting that the time has come to go their own way, they decide to throw a party in honour of their love and the time spent together. But their friends, the party guests, refuse to believe that they’re serious either about the party or about their separation.