Audience Award and best special effects in a very special film that has garnered great praise among specialized critics
Spanish cinema, in general, has not stood out precisely for delving into the fantastic genre. And if we limit the sword and sorcery subgenre (you know, Conan, The Red Warrior, The Lord of the Beasts, Game of Thrones… (Yes… No?) Well, we ran out of titles. By boat soon, I remember The Knight of the dragon, one of the most notorious commercial disasters in our industry (Miguel Bosé with armor and a dragon, what could go wrong? The brave have it available on Prime Video), directed by Fernando Colomo, and El corazón del guerrero, a highly estimable heroic fantasy Directed by Daniel Monzon.
Cape and sword in Basque lands
Bainet Zinema, Ikusgarri Films, Kilima Media, ETB
Without a doubt, our industry deserves more genre cinema, in general, and fantastic in particular. That is why we can only applaud until our hands bleed with the premiere of Irati, an adventure and action film set in the 8th century and which rose, no less, than with the audience award and best special effects in the last edition of the Sitges Festival.
In Irati We are witnessing a time in which paganism is giving way to an increasingly widespread Christianity. It is the moment in which Charlemagne’s army crosses the Pyrenees, 8th century. The leader of a valley request help from an ancient goddess: Thanks to a blood pact, he exchanges his life in exchange for the defeat of the enemy. Before dying he makes his son Eneko promise that he will defend the life of his people until the last consequences.
Bainet Zinema, Ikusgarri Films, Kilima Media, ETB
This is the synopsis of Irati, a film that we could undoubtedly describe as necessary, especially in an industry lacking in titles that appeal to fantasy. In addition, it has come with the approval of specialized critics. For example, Javier Ocaña from El País has said of her that “the visualization of the magic, the quality of the FX and the beautiful epilogue leave the movie very high”. For his part, Luis Martínez from El Mundo assures that it is “a captivating and very beautiful work of rarity”.
The film has been shot in Basque, however, very few copies will be screened in their language, the dubbed option being the most widespread. A pity, since the Basque language would promote a greater immersion in a story so anchored to the mythology of an entire people. However, if we want this type of film to continue being made in Spain and even reach the cinemas, we must contribute by going to the cinema to see it. Besides, a show of these conditions is what, without a doubt, it deserves.
