''Ants in the Mouth'' ( es, Hormigas en la boca, links=no) is a 2005 Spanish-Cuban thriller film directed by

Mariano Barroso Mariano Barroso (born 26 December 1959) is a Spanish film director and screenwriter. He has directed more than 20 films since 1982. His 1996 film '' Éxtasis'' was entered into the 46th Berlin International Film Festival. Since 9 June 2018, he ...

consisting of an adaptation of the novel ''Amanecer con hormigas en la boca'' by Miguel Barroso. It stars

Eduard Fernández Eduard Fernández Serrano (born 25 August 1964) is a Spanish screen and stage actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including three Goya Awards and four Gaudí Awards. Biography Eduard Fernández was born in Barcelona on 25 August ...

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 ...

Jorge Perugorría Jorge Perugorría Rodríguez (aka "Pichi," born 13 August 1965) is a Cuban actor, film director and painter. He is well known for his part as Diego in '' Strawberry and Chocolate'' (original title in Spanish ''Fresa y chocolate'' (co-directed by ...

and

José Luis Gómez José Luis Gómez may refer to: * José Luis Gómez (actor) (born 1940), Spanish actor and director * José Luis Gómez (footballer) (born 1993), Argentine footballer * José Luis Gómez Martínez (born 1943), Spanish professor * Joselu (footba ...

Plot

The fiction is set in the late 1950s. Released from jail after spending 8 years in a Francoist prison, Martín moves to pre-revolutionary

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

, Cuba, looking for his girlfriend Julia, and once there, he is told by Julia's uncle Dalmau that she is dead. He eventually finds out that she had married Freddy Navarro, a corrupt senator of the Batista regime.

Cast

Production

Penned by

and Alejandro Hernández with the collaboration of

Tom Abrams Tom Abrams (North Carolina, 1958) is an American screenwriter and director whose work has been recognized in both the United States and Europe. Early life and education Abrams was born and raised in North Carolina. His father was Richard Abr ...

, the screenplay is an adaptation of the novel ''Amanecer con hormigas en la boca'' by , Mariano Barroso's elder brother. A Spanish-Cuban co-production, the film was produced by Drive Cine, Messidor Films and ICAIC with participation of TVE and

Canal+ Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flo ...

. Eduardo Campoy,

Gerardo Herrero Gerardo Herrero Pérez-Gamir (born 28 January 1953) is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer. He is a prolific promoter of international coproductions and collaborations between Spain and Hispanic American countries. From 1993 to ...

, and were credited as producers. Boasting a budget of around €4 million, the film was shot in 2004 in locations of Cuba (including

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

) and Spain.

Release

''Ants in the Mouth'' premiered as the opening film of the 8th

Málaga Film Festival The Málaga Film Festival, formerly Málaga Spanish Film Festival (FMCE), is an annual film festival held in Málaga, Spain. The festival was established to promote Spanish cinema and help disseminate information about Spanish films. Since 2017, i ...

in April 2005. Distributed by

Filmax Filmax International is a Spanish motion picture production company and film distributor based in Barcelona, and one of Spain's largest integrated film and television groups. It produced the ''REC'' horror series, and owns the Nirvana Films an ...

, the film was theatrically released in Spain on 29 April 2005.

Reception

Jonathan Holland 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), ...

'' deemed the film to be "a brooding, intense and shrewdly-plotted thriller set in 1950s Havana", featuring a "beautifully modulated" lead performance by Fernández, although, conversely, the reviewer assessed that Gil fails to turn "her '' femme fatale'' beauty into anything deeper".

Accolades

, - , align = "center" rowspan = "2" , 2005 , , rowspan = "2" , 8th

, , colspan = "2" , Special Jury Prize , , , , rowspan = "2" , , - , Silver Biznaga for Best Actor , , Eduard Fernández , , , - , align = "center" rowspan = "2" , 2006 , , CEC Medals , , Best Adapted Screenplay , , Mariano Barroso, Antonio Hernández, Tom Abrams , , , , align = "center" , , - ,

20th Goya Awards The 20th Goya Awards took place at the Palacio Municipal de Congresos in Madrid, Spain on 29 January 2006. Winners and nominees Major award nominees Other award nominees Honorary Goya * Pedro Masó Pedro Masó Paulet (born 26 Janua ...

, , Best Costume Design , , Sonia Grande , , , , align = "center" ,

References

{{authority control 2005 thriller films Films set in Havana Films set in the 1950s Films shot in Cuba Films shot in Spain Cuban thriller films Spanish thriller films 2000s Spanish-language films 2000s Spanish films Spanish neo-noir films Films directed by Mariano Barroso