In the Company of Women (Spanish: Las buenas compañías) is a 2023 Spanish-French drama film directed by Sílvia Munt which stars Alicia Falcó, Itziar Ituño, and Elena Tarrats. Inspired by the case of the Basauri 11, the plot, set in the Basque town of Errenteria against the backdrop of the so-called Spanish Transition, explores the plight of women clandestinely helping other women to terminate their pregnancy.
| In the Company of Women | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Spanish | Las buenas compañías |
| Directed by | Sílvia Munt |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Gorka Gómez |
| Music by | Paula Olaz |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Filmax (es) |
Release dates |
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| Countries |
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| Language | Spanish |
Plot
editIn the Summer of 1977, Bea involves with a group of activists supporting women rights and the right to abortion in the Basque town of Errenteria, while also falling for an older well-off girl, Miren.[1]
Cast
edit- Alícia Falcó as Bea[2]
- Elena Tarrats as Miren[2]
- Itziar Ituño as Feli[3]
- Ainhoa Santamaría as Belén[3]
- María Cerezuela as Toto[3]
- Nagore Cenizo as Asun[3]
- Iván Massagué as Rafa[3]
- Heren de Lucas as Maite[3]
- Sara Barroeta as Pili[3]
Production
editThe screenplay was penned Munt alongside Jorge Gil Munarriz.[1] The film is a Spanish-French co-production by Irusoin, Oberon Media, En la Frontera Película, Manny Films, La Fidèle Production, with the participation of EiTB, TV3, and RTVE, and support of ICAA, ICEC, and the Basque Government.[4][5] Shooting locations included Errenteria, Pasaia, San Sebastián, and Biarritz.[5]
Release
editThe film was presented in the official selection of the 26th Málaga Film Festival on 13 March 2023.[6] Distributed by Filmax, it was released theatrically in Spain on 5 May 2023.[5][1]
Reception
edit
Matías G. Rebolledo of La Razón considered Las bueñas compañías, ultimately a film about insolence, to be "didactic but not instructive, empathetic but not sentimentalist, realistic but not historicist".[7]
Víctor A. Gómez of La Opinión de Málaga assessed that Falcó's central presence dwarves and renders inane the rest of performances, efforts from Munt notwithstanding.[8]
Jonathan Holland of ScreenDaily wrote that the film brings a "fresh female perspective" which, "despite its tragic undertow, is best seen as a celebration of those heady, transformative times [the 1970s] and a reminder of what solidarity can achieve".[9]
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 |
16th Gaudí Awards | Best New Performance | Alícia Falcó | Nominated | [10] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Así es 'Las buenas compañías', la lucha por el aborto en el País Vasco en 1977". rtve.es. 3 April 2023.
- ^ a b Elices, Raquel (14 March 2023). "Alícia Falcó, una nueva revelación del cine español". rtve.es.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Las buenas compañías". Filmax. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- ^ "Comienzan a rodar 'Las buenas compañías', una película protagonizada por Itziar Ituño". EiTB. 1 September 2022.
- ^ a b c Castaño, Iker (1 March 2023). "'Las buenas compañías', rodada en Errenteria, se estrenará el 5 de mayo". El Diario Vasco. Grupo Vocento.
- ^ "'Las buenas compañías' homenajea al movimiento de mujeres que luchó por el aborto". Málaga Hoy. Grupo Joly. 13 March 2023.
- ^ Rebolledo, Matías G. (14 March 2023). ""Las buenas compañías": insumisas e insolentes". La Razón.
- ^ Gómez, Víctor A. (13 March 2023). "Unos ojos que devoran un filme". La Opinión de Málaga. Prensa Ibérica.
- ^ Holland, Jonathan (20 March 2023). "'In The Company Of Women': Malaga Review". ScreenDaily.
- ^ "EN DIRECTE | Premis Gaudí: "Mentre siguis tu. L'aquí i ara de Carme Elias", millor pel·lícula documental". 3/24. 5 February 2024 – via Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals.