Jump to content

The Dinner Guest

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Dinner Guest
Theatrical release poster
SpanishEl comensal
Directed byÁngeles González-Sinde
Screenplay by
  • Ángeles González-Sinde
  • Gabriela Ybarra (collab.)
Based onEl comensal
by Gabriela Ybarra
Produced byGerardo Herrero
Starring
CinematographyJuan Carlos Gómez
Edited byIrene Blecua
Music byAntonio Garamendi
Production
companies
  • Tornasol
  • Okolin Producciones Cinematográficas
  • EnBabia Films
Distributed byA Contracorriente Films
Release dates
  • 24 April 2022 (2022-04-24) (BCN Film Fest)
  • 27 May 2022 (2022-05-27) (Spain)
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

The Dinner Guest (Spanish: El comensal) is a 2022 Spanish drama film directed by Ángeles González-Sinde based on the novel by Gabriela Ybarra starring Susana Abaitua and Ginés García Millán alongside Adriana Ozores.

Plot

[edit]

Set in two different timelines, in 1977 in Bilbao and 2011 in Navarre, the plot follows the processes of pain and grief of Fernando (caused by his father's kidnapping by ETA) and Iciar (Fernando's daughter; caused by her mother Adela's terminal cancer).[1]

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

The screenplay is based on the novel El comensal by Gabriela Ybarra, which incorporates autobiographical experiences of Gabriela Ybarra around her grandfather Javier Ybarra's killing in 1977.[4][1] The film was produced by Tornasol, Okolin Producciones Cinematográficas, and EnBabia Films with the participation of RTVE and Movistar Plus+.[1]

Release

[edit]

Selected for the official selection of the BCN Film Fest, the film world premiered on 24 April 2024.[2][5] Distributed by A Contracorriente Films,[6] the film was released theatrically in Spain on 27 May 2022.

Reception

[edit]

Paula Arantzazu Ruiz [es] of Cinemanía rated the film 2½ out of 5 stars, writing that the initial rhythm cannot be sustained due to the comings and goings between timelines.[6]

Pere Vall of Fotogramas rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting Abaitua (a portentous dramatic actress) and the film's use of silences, glances and light as the film's best.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Cine RTVE.es estrena el tráiler de 'El comensal', la nueva película de Ángeles González-Sinde". rtve.es. 22 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto (25 May 2022). "Los estrenos del 27 de mayo. 'El comensal'. La memoria del dolor". Aisge.
  3. ^ "Fernando Oyagüez en 'El comensal': "No tengo duda de que es el papel más relevante de mi carrera"". Europa Press. 4 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b "'El comensal', una película sobre ETA". Las Provincias. Grupo Vocento. 27 May 2022.
  5. ^ Meseguer, Astrid (24 April 2024). "Ángeles González-Sinde vuelve al cine para contar las heridas del terrorismo de ETA en 'El comensal'".
  6. ^ a b Ruiz, Paula Arantzazu (26 May 2024). "Crítica de 'El comensal'". Cinemanía.
  7. ^ Vall, Pere (26 May 2022). "Crítica de 'El comensal', de Ángeles González-Sinde". Fotogramas.