Creatura Explained

Director:Elena Martín Gimeno
Language:Catalan
Cinematography:Alana Mejía González
Editing:Ariadna Ribas
Music:Clara Aguilar
Country:Spain
Distributor:Avalon

Creatura is a 2023 Spanish drama film directed, co-written and starred by Elena Martín Gimeno. It is shot in Catalan.

Plot

Upon moving in to a family summer house on the coastline of Maresme with boyfriend Marcel, Mila confronts sexual trauma, with flashbacks to her earliest moments of sexual awareness (5 years old) and her teenage years (15 years old).[1]

Production

The film was produced by Vilaüt Films, Lastor Media, Avalon PC, and Elastica Films.[2] It was produced in association with Suris/Bishop Film, and it had the participation of TV3 and Filmin and backing from ICAA, ICEC and Creative Media Europe. It was shot in Catalan. Shooting locations in Catalonia included Sant Vicenç de Montalt, L'Escala, Blanes, Barcelona, and Sitges.

Release

The film world premiered in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2023.[3] Distributed by Avalon,[4] it was released theatrically in Spain on 8 September 2023.

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 93% based on 14 reviews from critics.[5]

Nikki Baughan of ScreenDaily considered that the film, an exploration of the "close relationship between guilt, shame and desire" should "attract attention for its female-centric story and strong visual identity".[6]

Dustin Chang of ScreenAnarchy deemed Creatura to be "an interesting film about how the female sexuality frightens men".[7]

Carlota Moseguí of Cinemanía rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, underscoring it to be "a strong claim on the exposure of female desire" in the verdict.[8]

Top ten lists

The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2023:

Accolades

AwardDateCategoryRecipientResult
Cannes Film Festival27 May 2023Europa Cinemas Label Prize for Best European Film (Directors' Fortnight)Elena Martín[9]
San Sebastián International Film Festival30 September 2023Dunia Ayaso AwardCreatura[10]
Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival8 December 2023Prix Les GrenadesCreatura[11]
Prix de la critique UPCB-UCC
Feroz Awards26 January 2024Elena Martín Gimeno
Elena Martín Gimeno, Clara Roquet
Oriol Pla
Gaudí Awards4 February 2024Best Film Creatura
Best Director Elena Martín
Best Original Screenplay Elena Martín, Clara Roquet
Best Actor Oriol Pla
Best Supporting Actress Clara Segura
Best Supporting Actor Àlex Brendemühl
Best New Performance Clàudia Malagelada
Best Cinematography Alana Mejía González
Best Editing Ariadna Ribas
Best Original Score Clara Aguilar
Best Art Direction Sylvia Steinbrecht
Best Production Supervision Andrés Mellinas
Best Sound Leo Dolgan, Oriol Donat, Laia Casanovas
Best Visual Effects Cristina Garmón
Best Makeup and Hairstyles Danae Gatell, Àlex Salvat
Goya Awards10 February 2024Elena Martín
Clara Segura
Alex Brendemühl
Clàudia Malagelada
Actors and Actresses Union Awards12 March 2024Best Film Actor in a Secondary RoleÀlex Brendemühl

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Creatura': el despertar sexual de Elena Martín. El Confidencial. Marta. Medina. 20 May 2023.
  2. Web site: Elena Martín estrenará 'Creatura' en la Quincena de Realizadores de Cannes 2023. 18 April 2023.
  3. Web site: Elena Martín conquista Cannes con su valiente retrato de los traumas sobre la sexualidad femenina. La Vanguardia. 20 May 2023. Astrid. Meseguer.
  4. Web site: 'Creatura' – estreno en cines 8 de septiembre. Audiovisual451. 5 September 2023. Marco. Sánchez Sequera.
  5. Web site: Creatura . 19 September 2023 . . Fandango Media.
  6. Web site: 'Creatura': Cannes Review. ScreenDaily. Nikki. Baughan.
  7. Web site: ScreenAnarchy. Dustin. Chang. 20 May 2023. Cannes 2023 Review: Creatura, Frightening Female Sexuality.
  8. Web site: Crítica de 'Creatura': thriller psicoanalítico sobre el despertar sexual de una mujer.. Cinemanía. 20minutos.es. 5 September 2023. Carlota. Moseguí.
  9. Web site: The Hollywood Reporter. Cannes: Elena Martín Gimeno's 'Creatura' Wins Best European Film at Directors' Fortnight. 25 May 2023. Scott. Roxborough.
  10. Web site: San Sebastian Film Festival Winners: Jaione Camborda's 'The Rye Horn' Takes Golden Shell For Best Film. Deadline. Armando. Tinoco. 30 September 2023. 2 October 2023.
  11. News: 8 December 2023. Bruxelles : affluence record au festival Cinemamed, qui décerne son Grand Prix au réalisateur turc Selman Nacar. RTBF. fr. Belga. 10 January 2024.