Masterpiece (2000 film) explained

Native Name:
Nolink:yes
Director:David Trueba
Screenplay:David Trueba
Producer:Cristina Huete
Country:Spain
Language:Spanish
Distributor:Lolafilms
Music:Roque Baños
Cinematography:Javier Aguirresarobe
Editing:Pablo G. del Amo

Masterpiece (Spanish; Castilian: '''Obra maestra'''|links=no) is a 2000 Spanish comedy-drama film directed and written by David Trueba. It stars Ariadna Gil, Santiago Segura and Pablo Carbonell.

Plot

The plot tracks two male friends, a film director and a wannabe leading man, preparing a musical film, intended to star Amanda Castro, a Spanish cinema diva at a low ebb. Upon the rejection from the latter, the two friends kidnap Castro and force her to star in the film.

Production

The film was produced by Fernando Trueba PC and Buenavida producciones, with the participation of TVE, Vía Digital and Amiguetes Entertainment. Shooting locations included the mountains of the Madrid region.[1]

Release

The screenplay was penned by David Trueba. Owing to superficial similarities of the plot with Cecil B. Demented, lawyers representing the latter film threatened to take legal measures.[2] Distributed by Lolafilms, the film was theatrically released in Spain on 27 October 2000. It grossed €1,056,713 (249,699 admissions).

Reception

Jonathan Holland of Variety considered that despite being "dangerously straddled between genres in a way that could confuse audiences" the film "manages to be moving, funny and thought-provoking".[3]

The review in Fotogramas rated the film 2 out of 5 stars drawing out Santiago Segura's character ("simply superb") as a man evicted from reality, as the best thing about the film while considering that there are too many characters who contribute nothing as the worst element of the film.

Accolades

|-| align = "center" rowspan = "3" | 2001 || rowspan = "3" | 15th Goya Awards || Best Supporting Actor || Luis Cuenca || || rowspan = "3" | [4] |-| Best New Actor || Pablo Carbonell || |-| Best Special Effects || Emilio Ruiz del Río, Alfonso Nieto, Raúl Romanillos, Pau Costa || |}

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Los Trueba ruedan a ambos lados del Atlántico. El País. Mauricio. Vicent. 31 January 2000.
  2. Web site: David Trueba estrena 'Obra maestra' cuatro años después de su primer filme. El País. 25 October 2020. Belen. Ginart.
  3. Web site: Masterpiece. Variety. Jonathan. Holland. 19 November 2000.
  4. Web site: premiosgoya.com. 17 June 2022. Obra maestra. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España.