''Invader'' ( es, Invasor, links=no) is a 2012 Spanish-French action thriller film directed by

Daniel Calparsoro Daniel Calparsoro López-Tapia (born 11 May 1968) is a Spanish filmmaker, considered one of Spain's most adept action film directors. Biography Daniel Calparsoro López-Tapia was born in Barcelona on 11 May 1968, although he was raised in between ...

which stars

Alberto Ammann Alberto Ammann Rey (born 1978) is an Argentine actor. He has played various roles in films, television and theater, including the lead role in the Spanish film ''Cell 211'', which earned him a Goya Award for Best New Actor. He is also known f ...

, Antonio de la Torre,

Karra Elejalde Carlos Elejalde Garay (born 10 October 1960) better known as Karra Elejalde, is a Spanish actor and occasional filmmaker. Biography Carlos Elejalde Garay was born on 10 October 1960 in Vitoria-Gasteiz. He developed his early acting career on i ...

and

Inma Cuesta Inmaculada Cuesta Martínez (born 25 June 1980) is a Spanish actress. She has starred in films such as ''The Sleeping Voice'', ''Three Many Weddings'' and '' The Bride''. Some of her best known television credits include performances in ''Águil ...

. It is based on Fernando Marías's work ''Invasor''.

Plot

Pablo, a Spanish military physician, suffers an attack in

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...

that leaves him badly wounded. Upon returning home with his wife Ángela and daughter Pilar, a recovering Pablo begins to cast doubt on the official version of the events.

Cast

Production

Based on the novel ''Invasor'' by Fernando Marías, the screenplay was penned by

Javier Gullón Javier Gullón (born 1975) is a Spanish screenwriter. Biography Javier Gullón was born in Logroño in 1975. He garnered a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 2nd Canadian Screen Awards for '' Enemy'', and two ...

and Jorge Arenillas. The film was produced by Vaca Films and Morena Films in co-production with Mandarin, with the participation and collaboration of TVE,

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 ...

, Ono, TVG, and

Xunta de Galicia The Xunta de Galicia (; "Regional Government of Galicia") is the collective decision-making body of the government of the autonomous community of Galicia, composed of the President, the Vice-President(s) and the specialized ministers (''Consell ...

. The film was shot in

Fuerteventura Fuerteventura () is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the North Africa region, and politically part of Spain. It is located away from the northwestern coast of Africa. The island was declared a biosphere reserve by UNES ...

and

Lanzarote Lanzarote (, , ) is a Spanish island, the easternmost of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It is located approximately off the north coast of Africa and from the Iberian Peninsula. Covering , Lanzarote is the fourth-largest of the i ...

(in the

Canary Islands The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...

) as well as in

A Coruña A Coruña (; es, La Coruña ; historical English: Corunna or The Groyne) is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. A Coruña is the most populated city in Galicia and the second most populated municipality in the autonomous community and s ...

( Galicia).

Release

Distributed by

Buena Vista International Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, formerly known as Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc. until 2007, is an American film distribution studio within the Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution division of The Walt Disney Company. It ha ...

, the film was theatrically released in Spain on 30 November 2012.

Reception

Irene Crespo of ''

Cinemanía ''Cinemanía'' is a Spanish language monthly film magazine based in Madrid, Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)( ...

'' rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, assessing the conspiracy-heavy film to "go all in in the action side and falling halfway in the thriller side", featuring "action scenes perfectly choreographed and sized to the needs of the story, making for an enjoyable time", with the story losing credibility as it delves into the protagonist's moral dilemmas. Pere Vall of ''

Fotogramas ''Fotogramas'' is Spanish digital and print film magazine which has been in circulation since 1946. It is one of the early film magazines in Spain. History Founded in Barcelona, it was first published on 15 November 1946 by Antonio Nadal-Rodó a ...

'' rated the film 2 out of 5 stars, considering that the backdrop (involving plots and corruption) in which the mishaps of the protagonist take place is not sketched adequately enough, while citing some action scenes and the cast's soundness to be among the best things about the film. 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—"a Spanish contribution to the burgeoning genre of Iraq-themed anti-war movies"—to be a "highly charged, good-looking but deeply flawed thriller about governmental spin". Raquel Hernández Luján of ''

HobbyConsolas ''HobbyConsolas'' is a Spanish video game magazine founded in 1991 by Hobby Press and published by Axel Springer SE. The first issue appeared in October 1990. The monthly magazine offers information about games for all consoles, and since 2012 ha ...

'' scored 70 out of 100 points ("good"), considering the "fabulous" cinematography as well as the choice of camera shots to be the best things about the film, while singling out the film's failure to thrill (or convince) in its central section and the way information is provided to be the worst things about it.

Accolades

, - , align = "center" rowspan = "16" , 2013 , , rowspan = "5" ,

27th Goya Awards The 27th Goya Awards were presented at the Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel in Madrid on February 17, 2013 to honour the best in Spanish films of 2012. Comedian Eva Hache was the master of ceremonies for the second year in a row. Nominees were ann ...

, , Best Adapted Screenplay , , Javier Gullón, Jorge Arenillas , , , , rowspan = "5" , , - , Best Supporting Actor , , Antonio de la Torre , , , - , Best Editing , , Antonio Frutos, David Pinillos , , , - ,

Best Sound This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow List of film awards, film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awa ...

, , Sergio Bürmann, Nicolás de Poulpiquet, James Muñoz , , , - , Best Special Effects , ,

Reyes Abades Reyes Abades (25 July 1949 – 1 February 2018) was a Spanish specialist in special effects. He won nine Goya Awards. Abades worked on more than 300 productions. He contributed to the opening and closing ceremonies for the 1992 Summer Olympics in ...

, Isidro Jiménez , , , - , rowspan = "11" , 11th

Mestre Mateo Awards The Mestre Mateo Awards, known in Galician as ''Premios Mestre Mateo'', are the main film awards in Galicia, celebrated annually. The awards were established in 2002 by the Galician Academy of Audiovisual as a continuation and expansion of the C ...

, , colspan = "2" , Best Feature Film , , , , rowspan = "11" , , - , rowspan = "2" , Best Supporting Actor , , Antonio de la Torre , , , - , Karra Elejalde , , , - , Best Supporting Actress , , Inma Cuesta , , , - , Best Direction , , Daniel Calparsoro , , , - , Best Art Direction , , Juan Pedro de Gaspar , , , - , Best Screenplay , , Javier Gullón, Jorge Arenillas , , , - , Best Editing , , Antonio Frutos, David Pinillos , , , - , Best Sound , , Sergio Bürmann, James Muñoz, Nicolás de Poulpiquet , , , - , Best Makeup and Hairstyles , , Raquel F. Fidalgo, Paco Rodríguez , , , - , Best Production Supervision , , Jordi Berenguer , ,

References

External links

''Invader''
at ICAA's ''Catálogo de Cinespañol'' {{authority control 2012 action thriller films Spanish action thriller films Morena Films films Vaca Films films Iraq War films Films shot in Galicia (Spain) Films shot in the Canary Islands Films based on Spanish novels French action thriller films 2010s Spanish films 2010s French films Films directed by Daniel Calparsoro Films with screenplays by Javier Gullón Films about physicians