Alcarràs: Catalan Director Carla Simón’s Award-Winning Family Drama (Spain, Women in Film)

July 14, 2022 by

A family of peach farmers in rural Catalonia learn that the summer harvest is to be their last in Alcarràs, Carla Simón’s second feature.

 

Alcarras in Joel Rovira, Ainet Jounou,
From left: Joel Rovira, Ainet Jounou and Isaac Rovira in ‘Alcarràs’ COURTESY OF LLUISTUDELA

Shifting from the childhood memories that shaped her 2017 feature debut, Summer 1993, Carla Simón expands her scope to offer a more extended fictional family portrait in Alcarràs.

The film is named for the village in northwestern Spain, where the Catalan director’s people have cultivated peaches for generations.

The of nonprofessional actors whose deep roots in that agrarian culture inform their faultlessly natural performances.

While the narrative might have benefited from more solid shape, this is a heartfelt drama about the wrenching clash between traditional agriculture and industry.

Credits

Berlin Film Festival (Competition)
Cast: Jordi Pujol Dolcet, Anna Otín, Xènia Roset, Albert Bosch, Ainet Jounou, Josep Abad, Montse Oró, Carles Cabós, Joel Rovira, Isaac Rovira, Berta Pipó,
 Elna Folguera, Antònia Castells, Djibril Casse, Jacob Diarte
Director: Carla Simón
Screenwriters: Carla Simón, Arnau Vilaró
Producers: María Zamora, Stefan Schmitz, Tono Folguera, Sergi Moreno
Executive producers: María Zamora, Giovanni Pompili
Director of photography: Daniela Cajías
Production designer: Monica Bernuy
Costume designer: Anna Aguilà
Music: Andrea Koch
Editor: Ana Pfaff
Casting: Mireia Juárez
Sales: MK2 Films

2 hours

Filed Under: REVIEWS