“I'm on the brutalist set of my next film: it's a bit Kubrick,” jokes Salvador Calvo, Goya winner for Adú [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], as he prepares for his upcoming shoot based on Sydney Bristow's autobiographical book Cómo volé sobre el nido del cuco. He talks to us about La fiera [+leggi anche:
intervista: Salvador Calvo
scheda film], his feature about the pioneers of wingsuit BASE jumping, inspired by real events. The film will be released in Spanish cinemas on 6 February, distributed by Walt Disney Spain.

Cineuropa: How would you define La fiera? Is it a film about sport, friendship or unbridled passion?
Salvador Calvo: It's a mixture of drama and adventure. I don't want to pigeonhole it into a single genre, but it has action and characters. It's a combination of all of those things.

What exactly is the “beast” referred to in the title?
It’s the impulse your characters feel to test their limits, pushing themselves further and further. Sometimes you go too far in those tests. It’s film full of life, which is why death is also present, as a counterpoint.

Do we all have a “beast” inside us?
We challenge ourselves because it makes us feel alive. I’m passionate about adventure travel, such as going to remote areas of Indonesia with cannibals and no roads, with all the risks that come with that. When something happens, you’re pushed to your limits, and that makes you feel more alive. It's not the same as strolling around Vienna. I have a daughter now, so I think things through more carefully. I used to take more risks, but one incident showed me my limits. The film talks about personal freedom, about choosing how we want to live, dealing with a subject that has been viewed socially as selfishness, assuming these people lack empathy for those around them. But the film also suggests that, when facing death, many realise they’ve lived the life others wanted for them, and not their own. So to what extent are we free to do what we want? That contradiction is raised by the film.

Do we sometimes get bored in our comfort zone?
What makes you feel alive? Stepping out of that zone, letting the adrenaline flow, and when you succeed, the endorphins kick in and make you feel alive. The characters in my film choose to feel alive.

I imagine you had to work on two levels: technical (with many special effects) and performance.
I plan everything. I love that combination. I come from a school with limited resources, and we worked hard there, with limited time, so I've learned to plan meticulously. I love that aspect, but I'm also passionate about rehearsing with actors.

Why did you choose the mockumentary technique?
I was fascinated by I, Tonya. With this subgenre, you dive straight into the story, you don't need transitions, and you pull the viewer into the plot very quickly.

How does this film connect with your previous work?
Almost all my films are based on real events. I’m very interested in journalism. I studied Information Sciences, because the film schools that exist today didn’t exist back then. I was drawn to international relations and travel literature. That’s what my stories have in common: I try to stay close to the truth and reality.

Always with a sense of spectacle and epicness.
I love American cinema from the 1970s and I identify with it. It’s possible to make spectacular films that aren’t just for streaming, that are profound and enjoyable in the cinema, and that make audiences think. Achieving that would be my greatest challenge.

Is La fiera aimed at a specific audience?
Not really. In fact, the two female characters are very strong. Miriam is like the viewer, the newcomer who enters that world and begins to learn how it works. Iris is the guide who leads you through the labyrinth and helps you understand it. These female roles are very important and keep us grounded.

Finally, have you ever gone skydiving or hang-gliding to experience something similar?
A long time ago, I used to report on those jumps. But when the plane door opened, I thought, “Why? Why do I need to do this?” You don't have to like extreme sports to understand La fiera. The other day, a woman who knew nothing about that world, told me: “It made me want to live and make the most of what I have left.” We must enjoy every second, because we don't know how long we’ll be able to.