The latest Goya Award nominations are a sample of the sweet moment that Spanish cinema is going through. The main categories have been taken over by some of the best Spanish films of 2022 such as ‘As Bestas’, ‘Alcarràs’ or ‘Cinco Little Wolves’ but several gems such as ‘Mantícora’, ‘Cerdita’ or ‘Spring consecration’.
Spring arrives
Laura is a student who has just moved to Madrid to go to university. Alone and full of insecurities, she tries to get used to her new adult life in the city. On her way, David crosses paths, a boy with cerebral palsy who lives with his mother. Laura establishes an unexpected relationship of trust with them that will be crucial in her next step towards maturity.
Fernando Franco already made it clear to us with his debut feature ‘La herida’ and with ‘Morir’ his ability to visually develop the psychology of the characters. In this year’s Goya, ‘The Rite of Spring’ has slipped into the Best New Actor and New Actress categories for its two main performers.
On this occasion, the director once again shows off all his virtues to tell us about this coming of age starring Laura, a young woman who begins to live his life as an adultstill limited by what her parents expect of her.
The director shows a great sensitivity to speak to us without words about the depths of the characters. Through framing and camera movements, Franco creates a complex and human portrait of Laura and allows us to get to know her through her silences.
History makes us put ourselves in their place and always moves within the ambiguity, making us discover what is going through his head little by little and in a subtle way. The evolution of the character is the central axis, in which we will find bright but also bitter moments.
It also touches on the subject of the sexuality of people with disabilities and it does with delicacy, respect and without hint of paternalism from which some tapes end up sinning when they approach similar themes.
Valèria Sorolla is the great discovery of the film and manages to play Laura with all her ambivalences. Telmo Irureta He does a remarkable job as David and it is impossible not to comment on the great forgotten in the nominations: Emma Suarez. Her role as David’s mother is more secondary but the actress brings so many nuances to it that she is surprised she was ignored at the awards.
‘The Rite of Spring’ is one of the best Spanish films of 2022: a wonderful coming of age that sensitively and subtly portrays the protagonist’s process of maturity and discuss the taboos of our society. After its discreet passage through theaters, we hope that it will reach streaming soon so that it has a second chance to be discovered.