The Beasts
French couple Antoine and Olga have fulfilled their lifelong dream of moving to the Galician countryside to set up their own small farm. Their refusal to sell their land to developers has created tensions with their neighbours, local brothers Xan and Loren, who want the development money for a chance at a new life in the city. Tensions boil over after an act of sabotage leads to increasingly tense and violent confrontations between the neighbours. Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s engrossing thriller is a slow-burn in the best possible way. Aided by remarkably naturalistic performances, this is a methodical film where the tension builds and builds in a manner that’s utterly compelling. It’s no surprise it dominated at Spain’s Goya film awards, where it won in nine categories including Best Film.
Director: Rodrigo Sorogoyen
Cast: Denis Ménochet, Marina Foïs, Luis Zahera, Diego Anido
Dublin International Film Festival, 2023-Best Film (Dublin Film Critics’ Circle)
Goya Awards, 2023-winner of nine awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor,Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Screenplay
César Awards, 2023-Best Foreign Film
‘A terrific psychological thriller and a brooding, muscular piece of filmmaking.’
Screen
‘In long, slow takes, Sorogoyen lets the tension build, one situation after another seeming as if it might spill over into violence.’
Eye for Film
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