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Madrid, 1987
2012 104 min Spain 12+
★6.9
Drama
Director: David Trueba
Trailers
Description
In 1987 Madrid, the unexpected encounter between a seasoned journalist and a young student leads to a profound exploration of love, desire, politics, power, and discovery of each other.
Starring
José Sacristán
Actor
María Valverde
Actor
Ramon Fontserè
Actor
Awards
Sundance Film Festival 2012
— Grand Jury Prize – Drama (World Cinema)
Key opinion
Madrid, 1987 is a minimalist chamber drama that explores the power dynamics and intellectual friction between an aging journalist and a young student. While praised for its sharp dialogue and strong central performances, the film is noted for its provocative, unglamorous depiction of sexual intent and its static, stage-like structure.
| Acting | José Sacristán and María Valverde deliver compelling, high-quality performances that anchor the intense, character-driven interaction. | |
| Theme | The film utilizes deep, literary-focused dialogue to effectively explore complex themes of generational gaps, ambition, and the vanity of the aging intellectual. | |
| Direction | David Trueba’s direction leans into a minimalist, claustrophobic aesthetic that forces viewers to confront the uncomfortable, banal realities of the characters' sexual power play. | |
| Screenplay | The film’s stage-play structure and lack of external action divide viewers: some appreciate the intense, focused intimacy, while others feel the narrative would have been better suited for a book format. |