The shoot recently wrapped (in Asturias and Bogotá) for El profesor (lit. “The Teacher”), the new feature written and directed by Daniel Castro, a screenwriter (the series Yakarta [+leggi anche:
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scheda series], Celeste [+leggi anche:
recensione
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intervista: Diego San José
scheda series] and Animal are some of his most recent works) who has not directed anything since 2013, when he released his feature debut, Ilusión, which just so happened to be about a screenwriter, and which he also starred in.

His second feature is toplined by Javier Gutiérrez (the winner of two Goya Awards for Marshland [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Alberto Rodríguez
scheda film] and The Motive [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Manuel Martín Cuenca
scheda film]; seen recently in the series The Asunta Case [+leggi anche:
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scheda series] and La vida breve, and soon to grace screens in Spanish theatres with Rondallas), flanked by Gonzalo de Castro (appearing in this year’s All in Favour [+leggi anche:
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scheda film]), Manuela Paso (the series The Anatomy of a Moment [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Víctor García León
scheda film]).

The synopsis introduces us to Carlos, a lonesome university lecturer (played by Gutiérrez). On the internet, he falls in love with a model 20 years his junior, who lives in Colombia. She never wants to talk via video call… only via chat. Despite the fact that it seems too good to be true, the man will risk everything for a love he thought would never materialise, and which might not even be real. This is therefore a comedy with the occasional fleck of drama, based on true events, and tackling topics such as solitude and self-delusion. It blends humour and a more emotional side to afford a look at digital vulnerability, the need for affection and the human desire to believe.

As for the origin of the project, the director explains: “A few years ago, I read a story about an educated, intelligent and well-regarded man who fell in love with a model who was much younger than him and with whom he chatted online for months. Despite the scepticism of those around him, he was finally romantically involved with someone. This affair made him better, happier, braver – an unlikely story that spurred him to head off on a great adventure. I don’t wish to reveal anything further, but I was inspired by this case and by other similar ones when writing the script for El profesor, a comedy with hints of drama – or a drama with hints of comedy – about the universal need to be loved. When I found out that Javier Gutiérrez had read the screenplay and wanted to star in it, I couldn’t believe it: I can’t envisage a better actor for the role. He’s educated, smart, funny and, above all, human. I’m immensely grateful to him as well as to the producers for having faith in my movie and, in a way, in me.”

El profesor is a production by Jaime Ortiz de Artiñano and Rosa Pérez for Atresmedia Cine, Jaime Gona for Gonita, Jordi Gasull and Toni Novella for 4 Cats Pictures, and Una nueva comedia AIE, in co-production with Vaya Films (Colombia), which boasts the involvement of Netflix as well as funding from the ICAA and the Community of Madrid. Sales agent Film Factory Entertainment is in charge of its international sales, and A Contracorriente Films will handle its Spanish theatrical release. At the project stage, it took part in the first edition of La Incubadora and in Cine Madrileño’s Ventana, where it scooped the Award for Best Project in Development at the 2018 iteration.