''Antarctica'' ( es, Antártida, links=no) is a 1995 Spanish thriller film directed by

Manuel Huerga Manuel Huerga (born 20 October 1957) is a Spanish film director and screenwriter. His film ''Salvador (Puig Antich)'' was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Selected filmography Film * ''Brutal Ardour'' ( ...

and written by

Francisco Casavella Francisco Casavella was the pseudonym of Francisco Garcia Hortelano (15 October 1963 – 17 December 2008), a Spanish novelist. He never used his real name to sign his works, as his surname coincides with that of another novelist, Juan Garcí ...

which stars

Ariadna Gil Ariadna Gil Giner (; born 23 January 1969) is a Spanish actress. She is known for her performances in films such as ''Belle Époque'' (for which she won the Goya Award for Best Actress), ''Black Tears'' and ''Pan's Labyrinth''. Career Film dire ...

and Carlos Fuentes.

Plot

The ''

road movie A road movie is a film genre in which the main characters leave home on a road trip, typically altering the perspective from their everyday lives. Road movies often depict travel in the hinterlands, with the films exploring the theme of alienatio ...

''-like fiction starts in

Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...

, then moving to other settings. María (a former rock star hooked on

heroin Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a potent opioid mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Medical grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt. Various white and brow ...

) and Rafa flee from Velasco after the former seized a drug cache.

Cast

Production

The screenplay was penned by

upon request from

, who had unsuccessfully tried to adapt Casavella's novel ''El triunfo'' into a feature film. The film was produced by Sogetel SA and Iberoamericana Films with the participation of

Canal+ Canal+ (Canal Plus, , meaning 'Channel Plus'; sometimes abbreviated C+ or Canal) is a French premium television channel launched in 1984. It is 100% owned by the Groupe Canal+, which in turn is owned by Vivendi. The channel broadcasts several ki ...

. Crew responsibilities were entrusted to

Javier Aguirresarobe Javier Aguirresarobe Zubía (born 10 October 1948) is a Spanish cinematographer.- Life and career Aguirresarobe was born in Eibar, Guipúzcoa, Basque Country, Spain. He has worked with Spanish directors such as Imanol Uribe, Montxo Armendári ...

(cinematography),

John Cale John Davies Cale (born 9 March 1942) is a Welsh musician, composer, singer, songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the American rock band the Velvet Underground. Over his six-decade career, Cale has worked in various styl ...

(music), and (editing), among others.

Andrés Vicente Gómez Andrés Vicente Gómez (Madrid, 16 September 1943) is a Spanish film producer, head of Lolafilms, with more than 100 films to his credit. Career Gómez is the winner of an Oscar in the category of Best Foreign Language film for ''Belle Époque'' ...

is credited as producer, whereas Fernando de Garcillán and Pepo Sol took over executive production duties. The film was shot in

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

Release

Selected for the 'Fast Lane' lineup intended to showcase debut feature films, the film premiered at the

52nd Venice International Film Festival The 52nd annual Venice International Film Festival was held between 30 August to 9 September 1995. Jury The following people comprised the 1995 jury: * Jorge Semprún (head of jury) * Guglielmo Biraghi (former head of the festival) * Jean-Pierr ...

. It was theatrically released in Spain on 8 September 1995.

Reception

David Stratton David James Stratton (born 10 September 1939) is an English-Australian award-winning film critic, as both a journalist and interviewer, film historian and lecturer and television personality and producer. Life and career Born in Trowbridge, ...

of ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' assessed that the film's "second half is more successful than the first", also pointing out that the film is "handsomely produced". Casimiro Torreiro of ''

El País ''El País'' (; ) is a Spanish-language daily newspaper in Spain. ''El País'' is based in the capital city of Madrid and it is owned by the Spanish media conglomerate PRISA. It is the second most circulated daily newspaper in Spain . ''El Pa ...

'' 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.

Accolades

, - , align = "center" rowspan = "4" , 1996 , , rowspan = "4" , 10th Goya Awards , ,

Best Actress Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organisations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actresses in a film, television series, television film or play. The first Best Actress awar ...

, , Ariadna Gil , , , , rowspan = "4" , , - ,

Best New Director ''Best New Director'' was an award given by the New York Film Critics Circle from its first inception in 1989 until discontinuing in 1996. There was no award in 1993. 1980s 1989 *Kenneth Branagh – ''Henry V (1989 film), Henry V'' **Runners-up: St ...

, , Manuel Huerga , , , - , Best New Actor , , Carlos Fuentes , , , - , Best Cinematography , , Javier Aguirresarobe , ,

References

{{authority control Films directed by Manuel Huerga Films shot in Portugal Films set in Barcelona Spanish thriller films 1990s Spanish-language films Spanish road movies Films scored by John Cale 1990s Spanish films