After the screening at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prix at La Semaine de la Critique, ‘La Gradiva’ had its Spanish premiere at the Valladolid International Film Festival (SEMINCI). The feature film had already enjoyed a highly acclaimed run among film critics, and this success was reaffirmed after it won the Espiga de Plata and the award for Best Editing at the festival in the spanish city.
The film follows a group of students who embark on a trip to Pompeii, in order to explore the place with their history teacher. What seemed like a simple end-of-year field trip turns into a week during which they discover themselves, bringing all their fears to the surface in the midst of a ghost town.
The most striking aspect of this film is its cast of inexperienced actors, who nonetheless portray their characters masterfully thanks to their natural talent. The lead actor, Colas Quignard, delivers an incredible performance that cements his status as one of the breakout stars of the season.
Its director, Marine Atlan, presents this as her first feature film after focusing on cinematography during her 11 years in the industry. Here, she offers a beautiful and deeply committed look at youth, with all its contradictions and uncertainties. She does so with authenticity, featuring protagonists who confront their own traumas and wounds. It’s relatively easy for the viewer to identify with the characters and feel like part of the film itself, since we have all experienced the situations depicted in it, while also being able to relate them to people in our own lives.
Watching it in a theater enhances the experience thanks to its exquisite cinematography and a soundtrack that complements the beautiful narration by one of the main characters. This takes on special significance in the film’s final stretch, where a plot twist that throws the viewer off balance ultimately cements its status as one of the most important films of the year.
Words by @joaquinxbc