| Poniente | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Chus Gutiérrez |
| Written by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Carles Gusi |
| Edited by | Fernando Pardo |
| Music by | Tao Gutiérrez |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Araba Films |
Release dates |
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| Country | Spain |
| Language | Spanish |
Poniente is a 2002 Spanish film directed byChus Gutiérrez and co-written byIcíar Bollaín which stars Cuca Escribano andJosé Coronado alongsideMariola Fuentes,Antonio Dechent and Farid Fatmi.
The2000 El Ejido race riots provide the backdrop for this fictional account.[1] Upon Lucía's return to her hometown of "La Isla" in theprovince of Almería and taking possession of agreenhouse inherited from her deceased father, she is witness to a concerning situation at theintensive farming complex in the province, featuring abuse inflicted on the North-African undocumented immigrant labourers, who live under deplorable conditions. This situation pits her against her cousin Miguel while bonds her closer to Curro (amigrant returned from Switzerland who presses for better conditions for the workers) and Perla, a prostitute.[2][3][4][5]
The screenplay was penned byChus Gutiérrez in collaboration withIcíar Bollaín.[5] The film was produced by Olmo Films and Amboto Audiovisual, with the participation ofAntena 3 and Vía Digital.[3] Shooting locations includedTorrenueva (province of Granada) andCabo de Gata (province of Almería).[7]
Picked up for the 'Upstream' (Controcorrente) section lineup of the59th Venice International Film Festival,[8] the film was presented on 1 September 2002 at the aforementioned festival.[9] It also screened at the27th Toronto International Film Festival later in September.[10] Distributed by Araba Films,[3] the film was theatrically released in Spain on 13 September 2002.[4]
Jonathan Holland ofVariety assessedPoniente to be Gutiérrez' "strongest film to date", a "socially committed, dexterously plotted drama" and "an all-too-rare Spanish take on the issue ofracism in Europe".[3]
Mirito Torreiro ofFotogramas scored 3 out of 5 stars, writing that the film takes a firm stance in favour of the dispossessed, while resenting the film's excessive "schematism".[4]