The Dinner Guest

The Dinner Guest
Theatrical release poster
Spanish	El comensal
Directed by	Ángeles González-Sinde
Screenplay by	Ángeles González-Sinde Gabriela Ybarra (collab.)
Based on	El comensal by Gabriela Ybarra
Produced by	Gerardo Herrero
Starring	Susana Abaitua Ginés García Millán Adriana Ozores
Cinematography	Juan Carlos Gómez
Edited by	Irene Blecua
Music by	Antonio Garamendi
Production companies	Tornasol Okolin Producciones Cinematográficas EnBabia Films
Distributed by	A Contracorriente Films
Release dates	24 April 2022 (2022-04-24) (BCN Film Fest) 27 May 2022 (2022-05-27) (Spain)
Country	Spain
Language	Spanish

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

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

• Susana Abaitua as Iciar[2]
• Ginés García Millán as Fernando[2]
• Adriana Ozores as Adela[2]
• Fernando Oyagüez as Fernando Arriaga[3]
• Iñaki Miramón [es] as abuelo[2]
• Ane Gabarain[4]

Production

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

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

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

• List of Spanish films of 2022

References

1. "Cine RTVE.es estrena el tráiler de 'El comensal', la nueva película de Ángeles González-Sinde". rtve.es. 22 April 2022.
2. 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. "'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. 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.