Lena (film) explained

Director:Gonzalo Tapia
Cinematography:Carles Gusi
Editing:Ángel Hernández Zoido
Music:José Carlos Mac
Language:Spanish
Distributor:Alta Films

Lena is a 2001 Spanish-Portuguese coming-of-age drama film directed by Gonzalo Tapia which stars Marta Larralde as the title character alongside Manuel Manquiña and Roberto Álvarez.

Plot

Set in Vigo, the plot follows teenager Lena and her relationship with her father Gorrión (in a situation of long-term unemployement) as well as with the group of local drug-smuggling henchmen who badly beat Gorrión.

Production

The film is a Trafico de Ideas, La Iguana, Alta Films, Portozas Vision, and Take 2000 Spanish-Portuguese co-production with the participation of TVG, TVE, and Canal+. It boasted a 250 million budget.[1] It was primarily shot in Vigo.[2]

Release

The film received a pre-screening at Vigo's on 1 May 2001. Distributed by Alta Films, it was released theatrically in Spain on 11 May 2001.[3]

Reception

Casimiro Torreiro of El País described the film as "a straightforward, linear, unpretentious film that tells a simple yet effective story".[4]

Jonathan Holland of Variety considered that the film manages to pull it off pretty well the fusing of coming-of-age teen drama with a "none-too-gripping tale of villainous drug runners".[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vigo acogió el estreno oficial de «Lena». La Voz de Galicia. 2 May 2011.
  2. Web site: Una noche de cine. La Voz de Galicia. 3 May 2001.
  3. Web site: Lena. ICAA. Catálogo de Cinespañol. 25 September 2023.
  4. Web site: Entre tinieblas. El País. Casimiro. Torreiro. 11 May 2001.
  5. Web site: Lena. Variety. Jonathan. Holland. 8 June 2001.