16/05/2003 - This disciple of Rossellini’s brings his consummate style and professionality to this sad family drama

Marc Recha is back in Cannes with his latest film, Les mains vides, (Empty Hands). The Spanish director came to the forefront of international attention on the Croisette in 2001 when his Pau i el seu germà was selected for competition.
The story is set on the border between Spain and France and deals with a familiar theme of Recha’s work: a death in the family that reunites the components and reconciles them with the loneliness of their lives. Recha tells this story at a leisurely pace and his characters do not evolve but rather gain insight and awareness.

Recha is renowned for the work he dedicates to preparing his films: "The preliminary and the subsequent screnplays are at the heart of the film. That is essential for developing the story in other directions,” he said.
Les mains vides was made over 7 weeks on location in Portbou and Port-Vendres and co-produced by France’s JBA Production and Spain’s Eddie Saeta S.A. with a Euros2.35m budget. Spanish pubcaster, TVE picked up the TV rights.

(Translated from Italian)