Libertad (film)

Libertad
Theatrical release poster
Directed byClara Roquet
Written byClara Roquet
Starring
CinematographyGris Jordana
Production
companies
  • Lastor Media
  • Avalon P.C.
  • Bulletproof Cupid
Distributed by
  • Avalon
  • Elastica
Release dates
  • 8 July 2021 (2021-07-08) (Cannes)
  • 19 November 2021 (2021-11-19) (Spain)
Countries
  • Spain
  • Belgium
LanguageSpanish

Libertad is a 2021 Spanish-Belgian coming-of-age drama film directed and written by Clara Roquet which stars María Morera and Nicolle García, also featuring Nora Navas, Carol Hurtado and Vicky Peña.

Plot

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A coming-of-age story portraying class struggle from the point of view of the privileged class,[1] the fiction follows the friendship between Nora (a rich privileged girl) and Libertad (the daughter of Rosana, the family's Colombian domestic worker),[2][3] as the former spends the holidays at her grandmother Ángela's summerhouse in the Costa Brava.[4][5]

Cast

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Production

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Libertad (Clara Roquet's debut feature film)[8] is a joint Spain–Belgium co-production and it was produced by Lastor Media and Avalon P.C. alongside Bulletproof Cupid with support from MEDIA, ICAA, ICEC, Eurimages, RTVE, TV3, Movistar+ and Catalan Films.[9]

Filmed in Catalonia in the Summer of 2019,[10] shooting locations included Barcelona, Blanes, Garraf, Lloret de Mar and Sant Andreu de Llavaneres.[11]

Release

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The film had its world premiere in the 60th Critics' Week at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival on 8 July 2021.[12] It also screened as the opening film of the 66th Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminci) on 23 October 2021.[13] Co-distributed by Avalon and Elastica,[9] it was theatrically released in Spain on 19 November 2021.

Reception

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Eulàlia Iglesias of Fotogramas gave Libertad 4 out of 5 stars, deeming it to be "a debut film that brings to the surface with remarkable subtlety an everyday inequality".[4] She highlighted María Morera and Nicolle García, whereas she negatively pointed out that the choice of characters exclusively speaking Spanish felt forced.[4]

Beatriz Martínez of El Periódico de Catalunya gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, presenting it as "a perfectly woven story about class differences, inequalities, mother-son relationships, teen friendship and the youthful yearning to discover the world".[2]

Philippe Engel of Cinemanía gave it 4½ out of 5 stars, considering that Roquet "constructs a prodigious visual and sound montage".[3]

Anton Merikaetxebarria of El Correo gave the film 2 out of 3 stars, considering that the director resolves the underlying coming-of-age story with the required "sensitivity and good taste".[14]

Reviewing for Mondo Sonoro, J. Picatoste Verdejo, gave it 8 out of 10 points; they presented Libertad as a film about oblique affections, considering however that the entanglement of unrequited affections laid out in the plot is presented in a measured balance.[15]

Wendy Ide of ScreenDaily wrote that Roquet's "filmmaking is light of touch and instinctively perceptive, honing in on the tiny details which are magnified through the lens of adolescence", likening her craft to that of Céline Sciamma and Lucrecia Martel.[16]

Accolades

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Cast and crew members at the red carpet of the 14th Gaudí Awards.
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2022 9th Feroz Awards Best Drama Film Nominated [17]
Best Director Clara Roquet Nominated
Best Screenplay Clara Roquet Nominated
Best Film Poster Jordi Trilla Nominated
77th CEC Medals Best Film Nominated [18]
Best New Director Clara Roquet Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Nora Navas Won
Best New Actress Nicolle García Nominated
Best Cinematography Gris Jordana Nominated
36th Goya Awards Best Film Nominated [19][20]
Best New Director Clara Roquet Won
Best Original Screenplay Clara Roquet Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Nora Navas Won
Best New Actress Nicolle García Nominated
Best Cinematography Gris Jordana Nominated
14th Gaudí Awards Best Non-Catalan Language Film Won [21][22]
Best Director Clara Roquet Nominated
Best Screenplay Cara Roquet Won
Best Actress Maria Morera Won
Best Art Direction Marta Bazaco Nominated
Best Editing Ana Pfaff Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Nora Navas Nominated
Vicky Peña Nominated
Best Original Music Paul Tyan Nominated
Best Cinematography Gris Jordana Won
Best Makeup and Hairstyles Barbara Broucke, Jesús Martos Nominated
Public's Choice Special Award for Best Film Nominated
Spanish Screenwriters' Union Awards Best Screenplay in a Drama Feature Film Clara Roquet Nominated [23][24]
9th Platino Awards Best Ibero-American Debut Feature Film Clara Roquet Nominated [25][26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pina, Begoña (19 November 2021). "Clara Roquet: "A las cineastas nos han vendido un techo de cristal y nos lo hemos creído"". Público.
  2. ^ a b Martínez, Beatriz (18 November 2021). "Crítica de 'Libertad': iluminar las desigualdades". El Periódico de Catalunya.
  3. ^ a b Engel, Philippe (15 November 2021). "Crítica de 'Libertad'". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Iglesias, Eulàlia (17 November 2021). "Crítica de 'Libertad'". Fotogramas.
  5. ^ a b Jiménez, Jesús (23 October 2021). "Seminci de Valladolid Clara Roquet: "'Libertad' trata sobre la amistad, el paso a la edad adulta y la lucha de clases"". rtve.
  6. ^ a b Sánchez, Sergi (8 July 2021). "¿Por qué Cannes ha apostado por una ópera prima española?". La Razón.
  7. ^ a b Rivera, Alfonso (8 July 2021). "Review: Libertad". Cineuropa.
  8. ^ Serra, Laura (19 November 2021). "'Libertad', una amistad imposible y el brillante debut de Clara Roquet". Ara.
  9. ^ a b "'Libertad' – estreno en cines 19 de noviembre". Audiovisual451. 15 November 2021.
  10. ^ Pizarro, Miguel Ángel (26 October 2021). "Clara Roquet ('Libertad'): "Que haya más mujeres cineastas ayuda a romper con los personajes e historias hegemónicos"". Ecartelera.
  11. ^ "Libertad". Barcelona Film Commission | Catalunya Film Commission. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  12. ^ ""Libertad" emociona en Cannes con su relato sobre adolescencia y clase social". eldiario.es. 8 July 2021.
  13. ^ "La 66ª Seminci acciona con ganas de cine y de recuperación". EFE. 23 October 2021.
  14. ^ Merikaetxebarria, Anton (19 November 2021). "Crítica de 'Libertad' (2021): Verano ardiente". El Correo.
  15. ^ Picatoste Verdejo, J. (25 November 2021). "Libertad". Mondo Sonoro.
  16. ^ Ide, Wendy (9 July 2021). "'Libertad': Cannes Review". ScreenDaily.
  17. ^ "Palmarés completo de los Premios Feroz Zaragoza 2022". Cinemanía. 30 January 2022 – via 20minutos.es.
  18. ^ "'El amor en su lugar' arrasa en las Medallas CEC con hasta seis premios, todos los principales". Cine con Ñ. 10 February 2022.
  19. ^ Lang, Jamie (29 November 2021). "Javier Bardem Leads 'The Good Boss' to Record-Setting Spanish Academy Goya Nomination Haul". Variety.
  20. ^ Silvestre, Juan (12 February 2022). "Premios Goya 2022: Palmarés en directo". Fotogramas.
  21. ^ ""Las leyes de la frontera", la més nominada en uns Premis Gaudí molt disputats". 3/24. Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals. 25 January 2022.
  22. ^ Serra, Xavi (7 March 2022). "Neus Ballús i Clara Roquet triomfen als Gaudí de les directores". Ara.
  23. ^ "Los Premios del Sindicato de Guionistas de España cierran sus nominaciones". Exclusiva Digital. 15 February 2022. Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  24. ^ "'Cachitos' y 'Venga Juan', entre las ganadoras televisivas de los Premios ALMA a los mejores guiones de 2021". Vertele!. 24 March 2022 – via eldiario.es.
  25. ^ ""El buen patrón" y la serie argentina "El reino", los más nominados a los Premios Platino". Telam. 31 March 2022.
  26. ^ Mayorga, Emilio (1 May 2022). "Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz Win Prizes as 'The Good Boss' and 'The Kingdom' Sweep Platino Awards". Variety.
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