Margo (Maribel Verdú) is struggling to deal with her teenage son, Jon (Arón Piper). After Jon is expelled from school, Margo sends him to live with his grandfather Max (Tito Valverde) in a small coastal town. Max, a retired military officer, believes strict discipline and an authoritarian approach is the way to remedy his grandson’s challenging behaviour. Not everything goes to plan, however, and when Jon is seriously injured after being involved in a serious crime, both boy and man will learn to confront their fears and limitations.
'15 Years and One Day' was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 86th Academy Awards.
**The screening of this film will be followed by a discussion on “The importance of teenagers in Spanish cinema”, guided by Dr Sarah Wright (Royal Holloway, University of London).
**The screening of this film will be followed by a discussion on “The importance of teenagers in Spanish cinema”, guided by Dr Sarah Wright (Royal Holloway, University of London).
Reviews
"'Fifteen years and one day' tells the vivid and truthful story of fear, in all its manifestations: the terror of growing up, the dread of being abandoned, the panic of not being what others expect of you....Querejeta's lens advances on tiptoes through the devastated lives of characters defined by their shortcomings....Without a doubt, a brilliant and intense directorial work that demands all your attention." (Luis Martínez, Diario El Mundo)
"Maribel Verdú has been a fine actress since she was a child, but she completely fascinates me in her maturity, gifted with a variety of registers, capable of nuance, an infallible guarantee of artistry and truthfulness in any role to which she lends her gestures, her movements, her gaze, her voice. She has a long and memorable monologue in this film....When she appears, I'm able to believe almost anything." (Carlos Boyero, El País)
