06/03/2020 - In her highly dialogued park movie Gracia Querejeta homes in on a problem affecting the over fifties: the fact that society no longer sees them

Adriana Ozores, Nathalie Poza and Emma Suárez in The Invisible

Julia, Elsa and Amelia are always dressed in tracksuits and trainers. The three meet early in a park, every Thursday morning before going to work, in order to walk and get some exercise. In-between strolling at a rather brisk pace, they stretch or drink coffee during breaks, chatting non-stop: they confide in one another, criticise one another in turn, and grow angry, the tone of their conversation reaching levels of aggression which verge on disrespectful, much like any other trio of friends, moreover. These are the out and out protagonists of The Invisible [+see also:
trailer
interview: Gracia Querejeta
film profile], the new feature film by the Madrilenian director Gracia Querejeta which hit Spanish cinemas on Friday 6 March.

Let’s familiarise ourselves with the characters a little more: Elsa (played by Emma Suárez) is intent on seducing every human male who crosses her path, a mission of hers since she first grew breasts; Julia (Adriana Ozores) is disenchanted with life, nothing matters to her anymore and she wields a level of scepticism that disarms the most obstinate of optimists; and poor Amelia (Nathalie Poza) chooses to suffer toxic relationships, day to day abuse and other humiliations just to be part of a couple and avoid “terrible” loneliness. The three women couldn’t be more different, and yet they’ve managed to build something along the lines of a friendly bond.

In this way, through three different personality types (clearly, the film could also be about men given the characteristics in question) and the subjects they broach during their weekly meet-ups, Querejeta and her faithful screenwriter Antonio Mercero have created a park movie, which is how we might describe a feature film whose protagonists walk continuously within a provincial town park, in this instance that of Cáceres (Extremadura). Taking in the various paths, benches and terraces dotted across this green and sunny landscape, our "Thelma e Louise plus one" threesome come across former friends now free as birds, mysterious men, old couples and mobs of running youths who overtake them easily on both sides.

But our friends do have their worries, as well as three very chatty mouths which endlessly voice the anguish, fears and frustrations common to their mature age. There’s no shortage of humour, though it is, at times, of the black variety. A pleasant watch which benefits from fast-paced editing but, above all, three wonderful acting performances, the film turns into a cry against discrimination, a demand for attention from the egotistical and absurd system that we’re living in, and a beautiful ode to friendship. In the end, there’s no ravine to be traversed, but there is a cruel world which they must bravely face, each and every day, outside of the microcosm of complicity which these three modern-day heroines are developing each and every week… in a park.

The Invisible is produced by Nephilim Producciones S.L. and Orange Films A.I.E., with the backing of Movistar Plus+, TVE, Telemadrid and Canal Extremadura, and the support of the ICAA. Distribution and sales are entrusted to Wanda.

(Translated from Spanish)