San Sebastián International Film Festival
As the San Sebastián Film Festival begins, and coincides with the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month in the US, it seems like an opportune moment to celebrate some of the festival’s prize winning films from Spain, Argentina, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Peru.
The Endless Trench
(La trinchera infinita)
The Spanish Civil War has just started, and a Republican man under constant threat from Franco’s army must hide under his house.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain, France, Canada • 2019
- Director Jose Mari Goenaga
- Cast Antonio de la Torre, Belén Cuesta, Vicente Vergara, José Manuel Poga, Emilio Palacios, Adrián Fernández
- Genre Drama, History, Thriller
- Available on Netflix, Netflix basic with Ads
Rojo
When everyone becomes silent, no one is innocent.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Argentina, Brazil, France • 2018
- Director Benjamín Naishtat
- Cast Darío Grandinetti, Andrea Frigerio, Alfredo Castro, Laura Grandinetti, Claudio Martínez Bel
- Genre Drama, Mystery, Thriller
- Available on Google Play Movies, YouTube, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, VUDU Free, Hoopla
Alanis
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Argentina • 2017
- Director Anahí Berneri
- Cast Sofía Gala Castiglione, Dante Della Paolera, Dana Basso, Silvina Sabater, Carlos Vuletich, Estela Garelli
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, VUDU Free, Kanopy
Smoke & Mirrors
(El hombre de las mil caras)
The incredible true story of the man who fooled an entire country
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain • 2016
- Director Alberto Rodríguez Librero
- Cast Jose Coronado, Marta Etura, Eduard Fernández, Itziar Atienza, Christian Stamm, Craig Stevenson
- Genre History, Thriller
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube
The King of Havana
(El Rey de La Habana)
Three young people struggle to get by on the streets of Havana in the late 90s.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain, Dominican Republic • 2015
- Director Agustí Villaronga
- Cast Maykol David, Yordanka Ariosa, Héctor Medina, Jazz Vilá, Chanel Terrero, Ileana Wilson
- Genre Drama
- Available on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube
Magical Girl
The father of a terminally ill girl is determined to grant his daughter her last wish, a very expensive anime costume.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain, France • 2014
- Director Carlos Vermut
- Cast Bárbara Lennie, José Sacristán, Luis Bermejo, Lucía Pollán, Israel Elejalde, Elisabet Gelabert
- Genre Drama, Thriller
- Available on Apple TV, Kanopy
Marshland
(La isla mínima)
Two detectives must join together to solve a series of murders in the South of Spain.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain • 2014
- Director Alberto Rodríguez Librero
- Cast Raúl Arévalo, Javier Gutiérrez, Antonio de la Torre, Nerea Barros, Salva Reina, Jesús Castro
- Genre Thriller
- Available on Strand Releasing Amazon Channel, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, VIX , Freevee, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel
Bad Hair
(Pelo malo)
A nine-year old boy’s obsession with straightening his hair elicits a tidal wave of homophobic panic in his hard-working mother.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Venezuela, Peru, Argentina • 2013
- Director Mariana Rondón
- Cast Beto Benitez, Samantha Castillo, Samuel Lange Zambrano, Nelly Ramos, María Emilia Sulbarán
- Genre Drama
- Available on OVID, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Kanopy, myfilmfriend
Blancanieves
Based on Snow White, this adaptation centers on a female bullfighter.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain, Belgium, France • 2012
- Director Pablo Berger
- Cast Maribel Verdú, Macarena García, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Ángela Molina, Inma Cuesta, Sofía Oria
- Genre Drama, Fantasy
- Available on Cohen Media Amazon Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, Kanopy
The Artist and the Model
(El artista y la modelo)
An aging artist finds new inspiration when he takes in a Spanish refugee and makes her his model.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain, France • 2012
- Director Fernando Trueba
- Cast Jean Rochefort, Aida Folch, Claudia Cardinale, Götz Otto, Chus Lampreave, Christian Sinniger
- Genre Drama
- Available on Cohen Media Amazon Channel, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, Kanopy
Mondays in the Sun
(Los lunes al sol)
A group of former shipbuilders in a coastal town struggle with unemployment after the closure of their shipyard.
- ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain, France, Italy • 2002
- Director Fernando León de Aranoa
- Cast Javier Bardem, Luis Tosar, Nieve de Medina, Enrique Villén, Celso Bugallo, José Ángel Egido
- Genre Comedy, Drama
- Available on Fandango At Home
The Spirit of the Beehive
(El espíritu de la colmena)
In the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, the 7 year-old Ana goes to search for Frankenstein's monster after seeing the film herself.
- ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭
- Spain • 1973
- Director Víctor Erice
- Cast Fernando Fernán Gómez, Teresa Gimpera, Ana Torrent, Isabel Tellería, Laly Soldevila, Miguel Picazo
- Genre Drama, Fantasy
- Available on Criterion Channel