This October, the hugely popular Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns to the Scottish capital for its fifth incarnation, with even a few cameos in Glasgow and Stirling to boot. As always, however, the lion’s share of the festivities will take place at the Edinburgh Filmhouse, so here’s a quick look ahead to what you can expect. For a more comprehensive overview of what’s in store, check out the full programme online.
Aitor Arregi, Jon Garaño / Spain / 2017 / 114 mins
Based on a true 19th century story, The Giant sees Martin returns to his Catalan coastal town of Gipuzkoa after serving in the first Carlist War, only to find his younger brother now far outstrips him in height. Impressed by his sibling’s astonishing stature and convinced everyone else will be too, the pair set out on a journey across Europe, learning many unpleasant truths about themselves and each other en route.
Sebastián Lelio / Chile / 2017 / 104 mins
Winner of the Best Foreign Film category at this year’s Oscars, Una mujer fantástica sees Daniela Vega play a trans woman (Marina) struggling to cope with the sudden death of her older boyfriend. As if that trauma wasn’t enough, she also must deal with the narrow-minded abuse of his family and wider society.
Alberto Rodríguez / Spain / 2014 / 104 mins
The marshlands of rural Andalucía appear to have fallen victim to a serial killer in post-Franco Spain, with two teenage girls already dead. Dispatched from Madrid, a pair of big-city detectives with hugely contrasting styles and personas must work together to make sure the body count doesn’t pile up any further in a small town mired in misogyny and antiquated attitudes.
@ Filmhouse on Fri 5 and Thu 11 Oct
Help Me Make It Through the Night
José Ramón Chávez / Mexico / 2017 / 90 mins
A Mexican family finds itself coming apart at the seams. The father has kicked his wife out of the house due to her crippling gambling problem, the eldest finds out his fiancée is looking to break things off and the youngest believes he can be the glue that holds them all together. After a chance accident puts things into perspective, each of the family must do their best to make it through the night.
@ Filmhouse on Mon 8 and Sat 13 Oct
Andrés M. Koppel / Spain / 2017 / 104 mins
Years after a local politician is cleared of any involvement in the killing of a young man on the island of La Gomera, the case is reopened again. A sergeant and his corporal are sent to investigate the matter anew, with another corporal – the last person to see the deceased alive – tagging along for the ride. Based on the novel by Lorenzo Silva.