The Last Romantics

The Last Romantics
Theatrical release poster
BasqueAzken erromantikoak
Directed byDavid Pérez Sañudo
Screenplay by
  • David Pérez Sañudo
  • Marina Parés Pulido
Based onLos últimos románticos
by Txani Rodríguez
Produced by
Starring
  • Miren Gaztañaga
  • Maica Barroso
  • Erik Probanza
CinematographyVíctor Benavides Olazabal
Edited byLluís Murua
Music byBeatriz López-Nogales
Production
companies
  • La Claqueta PC
  • Irusoin
  • Irune y Miguel Maria AIE
  • La Cruda Realidad
  • Miami Film Gate
Distributed byA Contracorriente Films (es)
Release dates
  • 23 September 2024 (2024-09-23) (Zinemaldia)
  • 15 November 2024 (2024-11-15) (Spain)
Countries
  • Spain
  • United States
Languages
  • Basque
  • Spanish

The Last Romantics (Basque: Azken erromantikoak) is a 2024 drama film directed by David Pérez Sañudo based on the novel Los últimos románticos by Txani Rodríguez starring Miren Gaztañaga.

Plot

Set in an industrial town of Álava,[1] the plot follows the plight of reclusive and hypochondriac paper factory worker Irune upon discovering a bulge in her chest while involving in trade union struggle.[2]

Cast

  • Miren Gaztañaga as Irune[3]
  • Maica Barroso as Paulina[3]
  • Erik Probanza as Iker[3]
  • Ignacio Mateos as Miguel María[3]
  • Arkaitz Gartziandia as Aritz[3]
  • Iñigo Aranburu as Esteban[3]
  • Itziar Aizpuru as Ángeles[3]
  • Jon Zumelaga as Abel[3]

Production

The film was produced by La Claqueta PC and Irusoin alongside Irune y Miguel Maria AIE, La Cruda Realidad and Miami Film Gate with the participation of EiTB, Canal Sur, RTVE, and Max and backing from ICAA, Basque Government and Creative Europe MEDIA.[4] Shooting locations included Gernika, Lisbon, Ronda, and Seville.[5]

Release

The Last Romantics had its world premiere in the 'New Directors' strand of the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival on 23 September 2024.[2][6] It also made it to the 'New Andalusian Panorama' slate of the 21st Seville European Film Festival.[2] Distributed by A Contracorriente Films,[7] it was released theatrically in Spain on 15 November 2024.

Reception

Alfonso Rivera of Cineuropa wrote that Pérez Sañudo adds an "extra dose of melancholy with dim, grey and intentionally ugly cinematography" [...] "and ends up imbuing the entire running time with sorrow, making it a hard watch".[8]

Rubén Romero Santos of Cinemanía rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, declaring Pérez Sañudo as the best director of actresses of his generation, with a fabulous performance by Gaztañaga.[9]

Javier Ocaña of El País wrote that the film "has a spirit of collective defeat, of time running out, of a society corrupted by a kind of moral debacle in which there is no room for good souls like that of its protagonist".[10]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2025
4th Carmen Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Marina Parés Nominated [11][12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Yuste, Javier (15 November 2024). "'Los últimos románticos': retrato al natural de una mujer aislada". El Cultural – via El Español.
  2. ^ a b c "RTVE.es estrena el tráiler de 'Los últimos románticos (Azken erromantikoak)', la nueva película de David Pérez Sañudo ('Ane')". rtve.es. 21 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto (11 November 2024). "Los estrenos del 15 de noviembre. 'Los últimos románticos' ('Azken erromantikoak'). Toda la soledad". Aisge.
  4. ^ "Estreno largometraje "Los últimos románticos" de David Pérez Sañudo". Asociación APPA. November 2024.
  5. ^ Marroquín, Alberto (15 July 2024). "La película de David Pérez Sañudo 'Los últimos románticos' competirá en el Festival de San Sebastián". El Correo de Burgos.
  6. ^ "Sañudo pregunta a los espectadores del Zinemaldia: ¿qué es lo romántico?". sansebastianfestival.com. 24 September 2024.
  7. ^ "David Pérez Sañudo dirige 'Los últimos románticos', la historia de una trabajadora de una fábrica". Cine con Ñ. 23 August 2024.
  8. ^ Rivera, Alfonso (30 September 2024). "Review: The Last Romantics". Cineuropa.
  9. ^ Romero Santos, Rubén (14 November 2024). "Crítica de 'Los últimos románticos': la denuncia social se aligera con esperanzadores arrebatos líricos". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  10. ^ Ocaña, Javier (15 November 2024). "'Los últimos románticos': la misteriosa película de un alma buena en una sociedad que se derrumba". El País.
  11. ^ "'Solos en la noche' y 'Rita' encabezan las candidaturas a los premios Carmen del Cine Andaluz, que se entregan en Córdoba". ABC. 17 December 2024.
  12. ^ Martín-Gorriz, Alfredo (2 February 2025). "Córdoba brilla en unos Premios Carmen que encumbran a 'Segundo premio', 'Rita' y '¿Es el enemigo?'". ABC.