The Chapel (Spanish: La ermita) is a 2023 Spanish supernatural drama[1] film directed by Carlota Pereda and co-written by Albert Bertran, Carmelo Viera, and Pereda which stars Belén Rueda and Maia Zaitegi.

The Chapel
Film poster
SpanishLa ermita
Directed byCarlota Pereda
Written by
  • Albert Bertran
  • Carmelo Viera
  • Carlota Pereda
Produced by
  • Carlos Fernández
  • Laura Fernández Brites
  • Iñaki Gómez
  • Pablo Echart
Starring
CinematographyRita Noriega
Edited byDavid Pelegrín
Music byPascal Gaigne
Production
companies
Distributed byFilmax
Release dates
  • 12 October 2023 (2023-10-12) (Sitges)
  • 17 November 2023 (2023-11-17) (Spain)
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

Plot

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8-year-old Emma seeks guidance and help from false medium Carol to contact with the ghost of a girl trapped in a chapel, so Emma could be able to communicate with her terminally-ill mother once she dies.[1][2]

Cast

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Production

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The film was co-written by Albert Bertran Bas, Carmelo Viera, and Carlota Pereda.[1] It is a Filmax and Bixagu Entertainment production, and it had the participation of Netflix, RTVE, and EiTB, and backing from ICAA and Creative Europe MEDIA.[5] Shot in between the Basque Country and Navarre,[2] filming locations included Usurbil and Leitza.[6]

Release

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Mauleón, Bengoetxea, Olivares, Pereda, and Zaitegi during the presentation of the film at the 2023 San Sebastian Horror and Fantasy Film Festival

The Chapel was presented at the 56th Sitges Film Festival on 12 October 2023.[7] It was released theatrically in Spain on 17 November 2023.[5] The film had its North American premiere at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 23, 2024.[8]

Reception

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Miguel Ángel Romero of Cinemanía rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, considering that starting with a powerful idea, the film becomes less and less effective as it progresses, being a more than worthy film notwithstanding.[9]

José Luis Losa of La Voz de Galicia assessed that the film never works either as an emotional drama or as a horror film.[10]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2024
38th Goya Awards Best Special Effects Eneritz Zapiain, Iñaki Gil "Ketxu" Pending [11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Así es 'La ermita', drama sobrenatural de Carlota Pereda con Belén Rueda". rtve.es. 4 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b Hopewell, John (16 May 2023). "Filmax Swoops on 'Piggy' Helmer's 'The Chapel' (Exclusive)". Variety.
  3. ^ a b c d Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto (12 November 2023). "Los estrenos del 17 de noviembre. 'La ermita'. Invocando fantasmas". Aisge.
  4. ^ "La ermita". Filmax. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b Rosado, Ricardo (5 October 2023). "'La ermita': imágenes del rodaje de la nueva película de Carlota Pereda tras 'Cerdita'". Fotogramas.
  6. ^ Fernández, Harri X. (2 November 2023). ""Rodar 'La ermita' en los escenarios del País Vasco era de perogrullo, tenía que ser así"". Noticias de Álava.
  7. ^ "Belén Rueda es una médium amargada en el segundo largometraje de la directora de 'Cerdita' presentado en Sitges". Diario de Sevilla. Grupo Joly. 12 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Fantasia's 28th Edition Awards Filmmaker Mike Flanagan, Closes with the World Premiere of André Forcier's Ababouiné". Fantasia International Film Festival. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  9. ^ Romero, Miguel Ángel (12 October 2023). "Sitges 2023 | Los médicos de la peste, una médium farsante y el fantasma de una niña se dan de la mano en 'La ermita'". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  10. ^ Losa, José Luis (13 October 2023). "Carlota Pereda pierde el toque de gracia de su ópera prima «Cerdita»". La Voz de Galicia.
  11. ^ "Premios Goya 2024: '20.000 especies de abejas' arrasa en nominaciones por delante de Bayona y Erice". Cinemanía. 30 November 2023 – via 20minutos.es.