21/05/2003 - Everyday life and routine conceals an abyss. Ingenuity but happily no patronising platitudes for Catalonian Jaime Rosales’ directorial feature debut

The malaise that is a direct result of everyday routine is the true protagonist of Las horas del día, the directorial feature debut of Jaime Rosales, screened in Directors’ Fortnight and in competition to win the Caméra d’Or.
A pleasant thirtysomething leads a quiet life: he still lives with his mother and spends his days with his friends, at the local bar or with his girlfriend. Apparently meek and mild, he is in reality a monster. His soul is a dark abyss in a humdrum and unchanging existence.
Despite the inherent ingenuity of a first film, the Catalonian director manages to avoid falling into the trap of platitude. He focuses his attention on an insignificant event that almost justifies crime. The hours of the day, and the routine that accompanies them, become even longer and more anxiety-ridden.

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“The idea for this film was I deep-seated need of mine to tell a normal story about what we usually call “the daily abyss”. What is behind a man who gets up and goes to work every day? What makes him suffer? Laugh? How is he when he goes to sleep and wakes up the next morning? This film is an open work.”

Made on location in El Prat de Llobregat and Barcelona, Las horas del día came about thanks to funding from the Generalitat de Cataluña set up to support new directors, and the Media II Programme for feature films. It was produced by In Vitro and Fresdeval Films who are also handling the international sales.

(Translated from Italian)