With the 2017 edition of the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival just a few days away, here’s a quick look at of the some of the films to look out for from the 5th October to 14th October.
The festival launches on Thursday 5th October with Daniel Barrena’s 100 Metres. A true story of a multiple sclerosis sufferer who overcomes incredible odds, it’s likely to be an inspirational selection to open proceedings.
For the past twenty years, thirty-five year old Maria’s life has revolved around taking care of her family since her mother’s death. However, when her father becomes engaged to his nurse, Maria must now find a new life for herself. This looks like a funny yet moving comedy-drama about the trials and tribulations of finding yourself as an adult that critics have compared to a ‘quiet Spanish take on Bridget Jones’.
1898, Our Last Men in the Philippines
A retelling of the struggles of a fifty-strong Spanish armed force to prevent the village of Baler from falling into Tagalog hands during the last days of Spanish rule over the Philippines. This film looks incredibly engaging, with the premise alone promising epic battles and a classic underdog narrative that recalls the likes of The Alamo.
A documentary from 2005 that tells the story of a little-known moment in the history of migration to Britain, namely the relocation of four thousand Basque refugee children from the bombed town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. The Guernica Children reveals the conflict between the British Government, who saw the refugees as an embarrassment and those willing to support the children.
A documentary about the controversial and ground-breaking yet forgotten Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, whose stripped-down music and open sexuality made her a unique and popular icon in Mexico. With Vargas herself providing narration, this looks like an interesting insight into a singing sensation who is little-known in the UK.
Zip & Zap and the Captain’s Island
This sequel to 2013’s Zip & Zap and the Marble Gang features the eponymous twins on another adventure as they embark on a quest to be reunited with their parents whilst visiting a remote island. I’m expecting an enjoyable action-packed adventure that provides plenty of excitement and appeals to grown-ups as well as kids.
When Elia chooses her fortieth birthday to tell her friends and relatives that she has won a 140 million Euro jackpot, their initial joy turns into something darker in what looks to be a gradually intensifying observation on the destructive nature of materialism and greed in modern society.
If that’s whet your whistle, the trailer for the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival can be seen here.