WATER, THE
[EL AGUA]
In Elena López Riera's assured and daring debut, it is summertime in southeastern Spain. Teenaged Ana and her friends pass the time smoking, drinking and dreaming about how to escape their decaying village. When she falls in love with the out-of-towner José, Ana is warned of an impending storm by her mother and grandmother, one that threatens to cause the cursed river to overflow and sweep Ana and her beauty away, as it has for generations of other local women. Under a crackling sky, Riera blends magical realism, documentary and mysticism into a stunning, naturalist folktale about the desire to break free of tradition and love without consequence. (Note adapted from the Gene Siskel Film Center.) Official Selection, 2022 Cannes and Toronto film festivals. Nominee, Best New Director and Best New Actress, 2023 Goya Awards. DIR/SCR Elena López Riera; SCR Philippe Azoury; PROD David Epiney, Eugenia Mumenthaler. Spain/Switzerland/France, 2022, color, 104 min. In Spanish with English subtitles. NOT RATED
No AFI Member passes accepted.
Run Time: 104 Minutes
Opening Date: Saturday, June 03, 2023
Genre: Drama
