Spain’s Latido Films Scoops Up Doc ‘Almudena’ Ahead of Malaga Film Fest Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

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The documentary ‘Almudena’ was directed by Azucena Rodrigues as a tribute to one of Spain’s esteemed authors, who was also her cherished friend. Almudena Grandes, now deceased, was described by Latido’s Antonio Saura as “the voice of her generation,” delving into contemporary issues while also reflecting on the memories of the Spanish Civil War. This documentary is a must-see for anyone passionate about Spanish and world literature, and for Latido, it’s an honor to share it with the world.

Starting March 15 at a special showing during the Malaga Film Festival, “Almudena” originated as a production based on Sara Gómez, a character from Grandes’ book ‘Los Aires Dificiles,’ as revealed by Rodrigues, who has worked on films like “Women in Prison” starring Penelope Cruz. This encounter subsequently led to a lifelong friendship between Rodrigues and Grandes. In 1995, they collaborated on a movie adaptation of Grandes’ book ‘Atlas of Human Geography,’ with the screenplay being co-written by both of them.

Years down the line, in the year 2018, I embarked on a documentary project about her achievements. I captured preliminary footage that was meant to serve as the base for this endeavor, but unfortunately, the global pandemic, her health issues, and her passing caused significant disruptions, as she shared in remembrance.

Following Grande’s passing in 2021, Rodrigues discussed the concept of creating a documentary about Grande with producer Mariela Besuievsky from Tornasol Media. Enthusiastic about the project, Besuievsky agreed. “At that moment, I was still engulfed in grief, and it was distressing to see her speaking and laughing as if nothing had transpired,” she explained. “However, the thought of preserving her memory – even through a screen – was what drove me.

In this documentary, Grandes articulates her perspective on life, art, and the world. The film serves to commemorate her memory, celebrate her life’s work, and acknowledge the significant void left by her passing. Luis García Montero, her husband, provides a heartfelt analysis, highlighting a writer whose words resonated powerfully with their generation.

Almudena Grandes gained stardom with her debut novel ‘Las edades de Lulu,’ which became a bestseller and was successfully adapted to film by Bigas Luna, marking Javier Bardem’s first appearance in movies. Since then, she has served as the voice of her generation, tackling contemporary issues while also delving into the reminiscences of the Spanish Civil War, according to Saura.

The novelist hailing from Madrid penned a dozen highly praised books, with six of them being turned into successful movies.

Saura remarked that in the city of San Sebastian, Almudena and Chillida were showcased in Arantxa Aguirre’s documentary, alongside Anton Alvarez’s documentary about Yerai Cortes. This collection, presented by Latido, highlights some of Spain’s most prominent contemporary artists at a global level.

The 28th Malaga Film Festival runs March 14-23.

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2025-03-11 14:46