A Midsummer Night's dream - Modelo 77

Another screening at our favorite open air movie theater Alexandra. This time we enjoyed Prison 77, a 2022 Spanish production directed by Alberto Rodriguez.

The story is inspired by real events, following the prisoners' fight for amnesty after the fall of Franco. While many prisoners held there due to their political beliefs were freed when the regime changed, the rest witnessed the politicians' promises of justice and freedom slip away, forcing them to take matters into their own hands. People who were in prison for years without proper trial, for petty crimes that may never even happened, others imprisoned for their sexual orientation and the list goes on.

The film narrates the events that happened from '76 to '78, from the perspective of two prisoners, Manuel (Miguel Herran), a young man unjustly accused of theft, and Pino (Javier Gutierrez), a long-term prisoner.

Beyond the captivating performances and beautiful shots, the magic of the film lies in the way it manages to make us care about the characters and worry with them until the last moment, without ever rushing. The movie unfolds strategically, every scene necessary and to the point, without trying too hard to extort the audience's emotions. The creator's simple point of view allows us to think for ourselves about the correctional system and the treatment of those who are in it - justly or not - especially under totalitarian regimes. It presents historical events in a very straightforward and humane way, while creating the suspense of an escape film. The creator just lets the material do its job beautifuly.

So don't miss this movie!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_e8Dp0b_Lg