08/11/2024 - Antonio de la Torre and Patricia López Arnaiz star in the Basque director's new film, a historical and social drama exported by Latido Films

Actress Patricia López Arnaiz, director David Pérez Sañudo and actor Antonio de la Torre during the filming of Sacamantecas (© David Herranz)

Currently being filmed in more than thirty natural locations in Álava and the Basque Country, and mainly in Basque, Sacamantecas is a feature film based on the chilling real-life character turned legend and now the title of David Pérez Sañudo 's third film after Ane is Missing [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: David Pérez Sañudo
film profile] (presented in the New Directors section at San Sebastian and winner of three Goyas) and The Last Romantics [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (which will hit Spanish screens on 15 November having also featured in the New Directors section at San Sebastian and the 1-2 Competition in Warsaw).

This period drama stars Antonio de la Torre (currently in the news for his brief but intense work in Glimmers [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Pilar Palomero
film profile], as well as receiving two Goyas, for Darkbluealmostblack [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and El reino [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rodrigo Sorogoyen
interview: Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Isabel P…
film profile]), Patricia López Arnaiz (who has just won the Silver Shell for Best Actress in San Sebastian for Glimmers and picked up a Goya four years ago for Ane is Missing) and Josean Bengoetxea (seen recently in the series Cristóbal Balenciaga [+see also:
series review
series profile] and La última noche en Tremor). The cast is completed by Eneko Sagardoy (Goya for Best New Actor for Giant [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Aitor Arregi and Jon Garaño
film profile]), Luis Callejo (this year in La casa [+see also:
film review
film profile]), Urko Olazabal (currently starring in I am Nevenka [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Icíar Bollaín
film profile]), Haizea Carneros, Isabel Gaudí and Fernando Albizu, as well as some three thousand extras.

From a script written by the director and Sergio Granda, based on an original story by Asier Guerricaechebarría and Joanes Urkixo, Sacamantecas tells the story of three disparate characters: the one who murders, the one who seeks justice and the one who finally finds the truth. The film not only portrays the crimes of Juan Díaz de Garayo, the first recorded serial killer in Spain, but also an era marked by violence against women. It examines a society where men are the sole decision-makers, while women are unprotected and relegated to second place.

The action takes place in Álava in the late 19th century: in the throes of the Third Carlist War, several women are found strangled on the outskirts of Vitoria. Ángela Berrosteguieta (played by Patricia López Arnaiz), the sister of one of the victims, goes in search of justice, determined to prove that Juan Díaz de Garayo (Antonio de la Torre), an illiterate peasant, is responsible for the murders. However, Pío Pinedo (Josean Bengoetxea), head of the marshals, is faced with a severe shortage of resources in this time of war, and growing pressure from the authorities to hide the increasing wave of murders. 

Sacamantecas is produced by Olmo Figueredo González-Quevedo and David Pérez Sañudo for La Claqueta PC and Amania Films, respectively, in co-production with Robin Kerremans and David Ragonig for the Belgian companies Caviar Films and Beluga Tree respectively. It is produced in collaboration with EiTB, RTVE and Prime Video, with the support of Spain's ICAA, Belgium's Tax Shelter, the Basque Government, the City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz and the Provincial Council of Álava, sponsored by Fundación Vital, and in partnership with Crea SGR and Fiare Banca Ética. Latido Films will be in charge of international sales and Buena Vista Internacional will be the distributor in Spanish cinemas, the first Basque-language film in its catalogue. After cinema release, it will be available on Prime Video.

(Translated from Spanish by Alexandra Stephens)