The shoot for Gila: ¿es el enemigo? (lit. “Gila: Is That the Enemy?”), a film directed by Andalusian helmer Alexis Morante (who made his feature-length fiction debut with El universo de Óliver [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] after making various music documentaries), has just wrapped on location in Biscay. The movie is about the unforgettable Miguel Gila, a pioneer in Spanish-language stand-up and a standout comedian in 20th-century Spain. Drawing inspiration from El libro de Gila. Antología tragicómica de obra y vida, published by Blackie Books, the film is written by the director together with Raúl Santos (who previously paired up on the writing of the former’s feature debut) from a storyline by producer José Alba (Close Your Eyes [+leggi anche:
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scheda film]) and Morante himself, with the support of Malena Gila, the subject’s daughter. Based on real events and on his own monologues, the film tells of the transformation of the young, unknown Miguel into the famous comedian Gila and reinvents all of the moments that, years later, would inspire his hilarious jokes.

The movie boasts an ensemble cast toplined by actor, comedian and magician Óscar Lasarte (in his first leading role here, after making an appearance in TV series such as La que se avecina and Kármate), Carlos Cuevas (the series Smiley, now gracing screens in Spain in Holy Mother [+leggi anche:
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scheda film]), Natalia de Molina (glimpsed last year in Asedio [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Daniel Guzmán
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intervista: Manuel Martín Cuenca
scheda film], seen recently in On the Fringe [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Juan Diego Botto
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scheda film], appearing in last year’s Jokes & Cigarettes) and Vicente Romero (Out in the Open [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Benito Zambrano
scheda film], Adiós [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Paco Cabezas
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The plot begins in Madrid in 1936, as a young man named Miguel (played by Lasarte) is living a quiet, happy life with his grandparents in a modest loft apartment. But the outbreak of the Civil War forces him to go off and fight. On the frontline, he manages to survive misfortunes, various battles, the firing squad and prison, all thanks to his sense of humour. Because of his unique way of interpreting the world around him, Gila will become one of the most popular comedians in Spain and Latin America.

In the words of Morante, “Tackling the origins of a figure such as Gila from a fictional angle has allowed me to explore delicate universal themes, such as war and the confrontation between equals, from a tragicomic and emotional perspective, as well as constructing a fable fuelled by Gila’s unique way of seeing life. In this film, we recount where his personality and his sense of humour came from, while simultaneously exploring how a whole country is headed towards self-destruction, to then rise from the ashes. All of this is steeped in humour, the most ancient essence of humankind.”

Gila: ¿es el enemigo? is a production by Pecado Films, Arcadia Motion Pictures and Philmo Capital AIE, in co-production with Nu Boyana Portugal. It boasts the involvement of RTVE, Movistar Plus+, Canal Sur and 3Cat, funding from the ICAA and the participation of CreaSGR. Its Spanish distribution will be overseen by Filmax.