Rocío Martín (director of the documentary Fernanda y Bernarda and co-director of the feature El que la lleva la entiende) has recently completed filming in Andalusia on La gran calumnia, a film that delves into the relationships between sisters and the silences that have shaped families for generations. The film, adapted by the director from 6 Mujeres 6, the novel by Andalusian writer Fernando Repiso, centres on the reunion of four sisters in their family home, a place marked by an event that occurred decades earlier and continues to shape their lives. Over the course of a single evening, what begins as a simple gathering turns into an emotional confrontation as long-buried secrets, tensions and truths rise to the surface.

The cast of this feature film is led by Mercedes Bernal (La luz con el tiempo dentro), Beatriz Arjona (star of the Italian hit Buen camino, but also an actor in Spanish films such as The Party's Over and Solos en la noche), Alicia Moruno (Tras el verano) and newcomer Rocío Hoces, joined by Lupe Mateo, Sofía Allepuz and veteran actress María Alfonsa Rosso (recently in Calle Málaga). The ensemble is completed by Mercedes Hoyos, María Steelman, Marta Ocaña, Carmen Canivell, Almagro San Miguel and Alberto López.

Filming took place in the city of Seville, in the surrounding mountains, and in Huelva – locations that lend the story an intimate atmosphere steeped in history. Now in post-production, Rocío Martín crafts a story that – like the book on which it is based – weaves together family drama and psychological thriller, exploring themes such as guilt, memory and the complex bonds between sisters.

According to the director, the film offers a restrained yet emotional look at what families keep hidden and which, sooner or later, inevitably comes to light. “Families share a history, but not always the same version of that history. La gran calumnia emerges from that space of tension, from everything that is kept silent and which, over time, eventually resurfaces,” she explains. “The protagonists are women of a certain age, very special women we don’t usually see on screen, portrayed from a different perspective. They are characters who fight for what they want, unfiltered and without guilt, striving to prevail despite their families.”

La gran calumnia is produced by Patricia Sánchez for La Filmahora and Lantia LTD, with support from Canal Sur Televisión and the Regional Ministry of Culture of the Regional Government of Andalusia. The technical team includes Sergio Caro as director of photography, Vanesa de la Haza as production designer, Carlos Crespo as editor, Amparo Martínez as VFX supervisor, Daniel de Zayas on sound, Sonia Sánchez and Gloria García on make-up and hair; and Manuel Bustos composing the soundtrack.