Antarctica (1995 film)

Antarctica
Theatrical release poster
Spanish	Antártida
Directed by	Manuel Huerga
Screenplay by	Francisco Casavella
Produced by	Andrés Vicente Gómez
Starring	Ariadna Gil Carlos Fuentes José Manuel Lorenzo Francis Lorenzo Walter Vidarte Iñaki Aierra Ángel de Andrés López Juana Ginzo Cristina Hoyos John Cale
Cinematography	Javier Aguirresarobe
Edited by	Ernest Blasi
Music by	John Cale
Production companies	Sogetel Iberoamericana Films
Release dates	5 September 1995 (1995-09-05) (Venice) 8 September 1995 (1995-09-08) (Spain)
Country	Spain
Language	Spanish

Antarctica (Spanish: Antártida) is a 1995 Spanish thriller film directed by Manuel Huerga and written by Francisco Casavella which stars Ariadna Gil and Carlos Fuentes.

Plot

The road movie-like fiction starts in Barcelona, then moving to other settings.[1] María (a former rock star hooked on heroin) and Rafa flee from Velasco after the former seized a drug cache.

Cast

• Ariadna Gil as María[2]
• Carlos Fuentes [es] as Rafa[2]
• José Manuel Lorenzo as Velasco[3]
• Francis Lorenzo as inspector[4]
• Walter Vidarte as detective[5]
• Iñaki Aierra [eu][2]
• Ángel de Andrés López as matón[5]
• Juana Ginzo [es] as abuela[5]
• Cristina Hoyos[2]
• John Cale as himself[6]

Production

The screenplay was penned by Francisco Casavella upon request from Manuel Huerga, who had unsuccessfully tried to adapt Casavella's novel El triunfo into a feature film.[7] The film was produced by Sogetel SA and Iberoamericana Films with the participation of Canal+.[2] Crew responsibilities were entrusted to Javier Aguirresarobe (cinematography), John Cale (music), and Ernest Blasi [ca] (editing), among others.[8] Andrés Vicente Gómez is credited as producer, whereas Fernando de Garcillán and Pepo Sol took over executive production duties.[6] The film was shot in Portugal.[7]

Release

Selected for the 'Fast Lane' lineup intended to showcase debut feature films, the film premiered at the 52nd Venice International Film Festival.[9] It was theatrically released in Spain on 8 September 1995.[10]

Reception

David Stratton of Variety assessed that the film's "second half is more successful than the first", also pointing out that the film is "handsomely produced".[6]

Casimiro Torreiro of El País considered the film "stimulating, sometimes brilliant and occasionally overwhelming", but he also pointed out that the plot features some elements left over (pertaining the gesticulating thug) as well as it is missing more definition from Vidarte's "unsettling" character.[11]

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
1996	10th Goya Awards	Best Actress	Ariadna Gil	Nominated	[12]
		Best New Director	Manuel Huerga	Nominated
		Best New Actor	Carlos Fuentes	Nominated
		Best Cinematography	Javier Aguirresarobe	Won

See also

• List of Spanish films of 1995

References

1. Sola, Juan (22 August 2021). "Diez películas sobre drogas ambientadas en Madrid". Telemadrid.
2. Pereira Zazo, Oscar. "Antártida". Cine Club en Español: 1–6.
3. "El frío del viaje interior". Metrópoli. 7 (2126). 8 September 1995 – via elmundo.es.
4. Benavent, Francisco María (2000). Cine español de los 90. Diccionario de películas, directores y temático. Bilbao: Ediciones Mensajero. p. 75. ISBN 84-271-2326-4.
5. Benavent 2000, p. 75.
6. Stratton, David (25 September 1995). "Antarctica". Variety.
7. García, Rocío (1 September 1995). "Manuel Huerga lleva al cine la redención de una joven heroinómana". El País.
8. Caparrós Lera, José María (1999). Historia crítica del cine español: desde 1897 hasta hoy. Editorial Ariel. p. 228. ISBN 8434466104.
9. Fernández-Santos, Ángel (6 September 2005). "Ariadna Gil y Victoria Abril salvan una jornada tediosa". El País.
10. "Antártida". Sensacine. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
11. Torreiro, Casimiro (11 September 2008). "Al final de la escapada". El País.
12. "Antártida". premiosgoya.com. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. Retrieved 7 August 2022.