French couple Antoine (Denis Ménochet) and Olga (Marina Foïs) have fulfilled their dream and have some time ago settled in a small village in the Galician countryside, setting up their own small farm. There, they lead a peaceful life, although coexisting with the local people isn’t as idyllic as they would like. Their refusal to sell their land to developers has created tensions with their neighbours local brothers Xan and Loren (Luis Zahera & Diego Anido), who want the money for a chance at a new life. Hostilities grow throughout the hamlet until it reaches a point of no return. Tensions boil over after an act of sabotage leads to increasingly tense and violent confrontations between the neighbours.
Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s engrossing thriller is a slow-burn in the best possible way. Aided by remarkably naturalistic performances, this is a methodical film where the tension builds and builds in a manner that’s utterly compelling. It’s no surprise it dominated at Spain’s Goya film awards, where it won in nine categories including Best Film.
Festivals and Awards
Dublin International Film Festival, 2023 – Best Film (Dublin Film Critics’ Circle)
Goya Awards, 2023 – winner of nine awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay
César Awards, 2023 – Best Foreign Film
“★★★★★ A terrific, gripping drama that will cross cultural borders with ease. Every nation has such stories” – Donal Clark, the Irish Times
“And while the jostling of the men and the sense of mounting threat is compellingly unsettling, it is Olga as a character, and Fois as an actor, who is the film’s secret weapon” – Wendy Ide, Screen International
