''Alegría'' is a 2021 Spanish

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

directed by Violeta Salama. The cast stars

Cecilia Suárez María Cecilia Suárez de Garay (; born 22 November 1971) is a Mexican actress and activist working with the United Nations and European Union campaigning against femicide and violence against women. She has starred in film, television, and the ...

as the title character, also featuring Laia Manzanares, Sarah Perles, Mara Guil and

Leonardo Sbaraglia Leonardo Máximo Sbaraglia (; born 30 June 1970) is an Argentine actor, with extensive credits in both Argentina and Spain. He has also worked in Mexico, and was cast in his first English-language role in '' Red Lights''. Biography Sbaraglia was ...

Premise

The film—presented as a "feelgood movie"— is set in

Melilla Melilla (, ; ) is an autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. It lies on the eastern side of the Cape Three Forks, bordering Morocco and facing the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of . It was part of the Province of Málaga un ...

, exploring the blend of cultures in the city, including identity, religious and family issues. After some time installed in the city, Alegría rediscovers her Jewish roots in the wake of the wedding of her niece Yael.

Cast

Production

''Alegría'' was produced by La Claqueta and Powehi Films alongside La Cruda Realidad, Alegría La Película AIE and 9 AM Media Lab, with the participation of

RTVE The Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española (; ), known as Radiotelevisión Española (''Spanish Radio and Television'', RTVE), is the Spanish national public Broadcasting, television and radio broadcaster. It is a state-owned enterprise f ...

and support from the ICAA, the department of Culture of the

Junta de Andalucía The Regional Government of Andalusia () is the government of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Regional Government and the Government Council. The 2011 budget was 31.7 billion euros. It emp ...

, and the department of Culture and Equality of the autonomous city of Melilla. The film had a €2.4 million budget. Filming began in February 2021 and wrapped in March 2021. Besides

, shooting locations included

Seville Seville ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Spain, Spanish autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir, River Guadalquivir, ...

and other places in

Andalusia Andalusia ( , ; , ) is the southernmost autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain, located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomou ...

. The film was written by the director Violeta Salama alongside Isa Sánchez. Pau Esteve Birba took over the cinematography.

Release

The film premiered at the 36th

Guadalajara International Film Festival The Guadalajara International Film Festival () is a week-long film festival held each March in the Mexican city of Guadalajara since 1986. The presence in Guadalajara of delegates from other important festivals from around the world has helped M ...

(FCIG) in October 2021, and will also screen at the 18th Seville European Film Festival (SEFF) in November 2021. Distributed by Caramel Films, the film is set for a 10 December 2021 theatrical release in Spain.

Awards and nominations

, - , align = "center" rowspan = "11" , 2022 , , rowspan = "11" , 1st Carmen Awards , , Best Fiction Feature Film , , La Claqueta PC , , , , rowspan = "11" , , - , Best Screenplay , , Isa Sánchez, Violeta Salama , , , - , Best Production Supervision , , Manolo Limón , , , - , Best New Director , , Violeta Salama , , , - , Best Special Effects , , Amparo Martínez , , , - , Best Makeup and Hairstyles , , Félix Terrero, Yolanda Piña , , , - , Best Art Direction , , Pepe Domínguez , , , - , Best Sound , , Jorge Marín, Sara Marín , , , - , Best Editing , , José M. G. Moyano , , , - , Best Supporting Actress , , Mara Guil , , , - , Best Cinematography , , Pau Esteve , ,

References

External links

''Alegría''
at ICAA's ''Catálogo de Cinespañol'' * {{authority control 2021 films 2021 comedy-drama films Spanish comedy-drama films 2020s Spanish-language films Films about Jews and Judaism Films set in Melilla Films shot in Spain La Claqueta PC films 2020s Spanish films Films shot in Melilla Spanish-language comedy-drama films