''Jump into the Void'' () is a 1995 Spanish urban melodrama film written and 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 ...

(in his directorial debut film) which stars

Najwa Nimri Najwa Nimri Urrutikoetxea (; born 14 February 1972) is a Spanish actress and singer. In 1996, Nimri formed the musical duo ''Najwajean'' along with producer Carlos Jean, launching ''No Blood'', an early instance of a trip-hop album in Spain. S ...

, Roberto Chalu, Alfredo Villa, and Ion Gabella.

Plot

Set against the backdrop of youth living in the industry-heavy peripheral urban areas, the plot follows the plight of young

arms trafficker Arms trafficking or gunrunning is the illicit trade of contraband small arms, explosives, and ammunition, which constitutes part of a broad range of illegal activities often associated with transnational criminal organizations. The illegal trad ...

and gang member Alex and her unrequited cravings for love and affection.

Cast

Production

The film is a Yumping Films, Siurell Producciones and Fernando Colomo PC production, with the participation of TVE,

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 ...

and Filmanía. Shooting locations included

Barakaldo Barakaldo (; ) is a Municipalities of Spain, municipality located in the Biscay province in the Basque Country (autonomous community), Basque Country in Spain. Located on the Left Bank (Biscay), Left Bank of the Estuary of Bilbao, the city is pa ...

and

Sestao Sestao is a town and municipality of 27,296 inhabitants located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. It is in the left bank of the Estuary of Bilbao and part of Bilbao's metropolitan area. Se ...

Release

The film premiered in the 'Panorama' section of the

45th Berlin International Film Festival The 45th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 9 to 22 February 1995. Israeli film programmer Lia van Leer was the Jury President for the main competition. The Golden Bear was awarded to '' The Bait'' directed by Bertrand Tav ...

on 17 February 1995. It was released theatrically in Spain on 3 March 1995.

Reception

David Stratton David James Stratton (born 1939) is an English-Australian film critic and historian. He has also worked as a journalist, interviewer, educator, television personality, and producer. His career as a film critic, writer, and educator in Austral ...

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 "ultra-violent pic" .."is leavened by the surprisingly tender treatment of the principal femme character, beautifully played by Najwa Nimry", otherwise writing that it "has 'cult' written all over it". Augusto Martínez Torres of ''

El País (; ) is a Spanish-language daily newspaper in Spain. 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 . is the most read newspaper in ...

'' wrote that despite the film being "full of irregularities", the helmer manages "a very personal work, a tender feminine portrait within the most terrible violence".

References