MALAGA — Isaki Lacuesta’s “Saturn Return” (“Second Prize”), always a frontrunner, topped this week’s Malaga Festival winning its best picture, director (with co-director Pol Rodríguez) and editing (Javi Frutos) awards.
The triple plaudit delivers further recognition for a feature which pulls off the double achievement of being formally radical and great fun at one and the same time.
Turning on Spanish indie rock group Los Planetas storied attempts to making their third and finally iconic album, but really about people’s need to recast the past as comprehensible narrative and a biopic parody, “Saturn Return” has been hailed by Spanish newspaper El Mundo as a “masterpiece.”
Playing Sundance where it was judged a “conventional tearjerker about an inspiring teacher” which “benefits from a terrific ensemble,” Christopher Zalla’s “Radical” walked off with Malaga’s Golden Biznaga for best Ibero-American picture.
In the other biggest award at the year’s Festival, Celia Rico’s “Little Loves” (“Los pequeños amores”) took the Special Jury Award.
Produced by Arcadia Motion Pictures, on fire after backing Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s “The Beasts,” Oscar-nominated animated feature “Robot Dreams” and Netflix hit “Burning Body,” “Little Loves” sees Rico return to a daughter- mother relationship. Tis time round, however, plot driver is the sudden dependence of a a redoubtable mother, portrayed by Adrian Ozores, who won a best supporting actress award.
Making good on the promise he showed in “Lucas,” Alex Montoya’s stylish family drama “La Casa,”which reduced at least one festival audience to tears, won screenplay, score and the festival’s Audience Award.
More to come.