THE BELOVED (EL SER QUERIDO) World Cinema

THE BELOVED (EL SER QUERIDO)

In the latest from Spanish filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen (THE BEASTS), Javier Bardem gives an outstanding and frightening performance as a legendary Spanish filmmaker, Esteban Martínez, who returns to Spain to shoot his next picture in Fuerteventura: a period piece set in 1930s Western Sahara. For the key role of Gabriela, Esteban is keen on casting his estranged daughter, Emilia (Victoria Luengo, a revelation), claiming the opportunity will help the struggling actress; Esteban downplays any intimations of nepotism by praising Emilia’s acting in a recent TV series. During the shoot, Esteban is all smiles, eager to win over the daughter he hasn’t seen in years, but old wounds reopen as Esteban’s behavior shifts towards manipulation.  THE BELOVED is a masterclass in acting: Bardem and Luengo are raw and passionate individually but together they rise to another level, one vividly portraying a relationship where resentment and spite take the place of love and compassion. The scenes depicting the shoot of the fiction film DESIERTO are another highlight, sure to please those who love a behind-the-scenes featurette while serving as fertile ground for a conflict that culminates in an explosive and terrifying scene involving take after take, after take. –Javier Chavez

Rodrigo Sorogoyen is a Spanish film director and screenwriter who directed, co-wrote and produced THE BEASTS (2022), which received numerous accolades, including Best Foreign Film at the César Awards in France and Best Film, Best Original Screenplay and Best Director at the Goya Awards in Spain. Sorogoyen’s short film MOTHER was nominated for an Academy Award® in 2019.

Maxwell Wolkin
Kino Lorber
mwolkin@kinolorber.com

MEMBERS & PASSHOLDERS

Screenings

October 22, 3:25 p.m.

Chinese 6

October 25, 5:15 p.m.

Chinese 1

Details

Country: Spain, France

Year: 2026

Director: Rodrigo Sorogoyen

Screenwriters: Isabel Peña, Rodrigo Sorogoyen

Producers: Nacho Lavilla, Eduardo Villanueva

Executive Producers: Nacho Lavilla, Eduardo Villanueva, Clara Lago, Javier Bardem

Director of Photography: Alejandro de Pablo

Editor: Alberto del Campo

Production Designer: Jose Tirado

Costume Designer: Saioa Lara

Music: Olivier Arson

Cast/Featuring: Javier Bardem, Victoria Luengo, Raúl Arévalo

Running Time (minutes): 135

Languages: Spanish, English, French

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