30/01/2009

The steady stream of Spanish releases continues as two domestic productions hit screens this week, at the start of a year that has so far brought no surprises. There has been a continuing dominance of US films and no unexpected successes, with the exception of Welcome to the Sticks [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which is firmly positioned in the Top 10 after three weeks on release.

Sony Pictures Releasing are launching Spanish title El Juego del Ahorcado [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (“The Hangman Game”) on an ambitious 120 screens. This is the tenth feature by Madrid-born director Manuel Gómez Pereira, who departs from his usual comic genre and tries his hand at drama with an adaptation of Imma Turbau’s eponymous novel.

The film – set in Gerona in the late 1980s – recounts the love story between Sandra (Clara Lago) and David (Álvaro Cervantes), who have been friends and fellow adventurers since childhood. El juego del ahorcado was produced by Gómez Pereira and Ana Amigo (El Amigo de Lenon) in co-production with Ovideo and Ireland’s Subotica.

Meanwhile, Dolors Payás’ latest film, Mejor que Nunca (“Better Than Never”) – described by the director as “an irreverent comedy” – is being released by Magic Lantern in Catalonia alone, despite the obvious audience-pulling power of its star Victoria Abril. The title was co-produced by Spain, Italy and France.

Finally, this week also sees the launch of Abdellatif Kechiche’s French film The Secret of the Grain [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Hafsia Herzi
film profile] (Vértigo Films - 25 screens).

(Translated from Spanish)