Creatura is a 2023 Spanish drama film directed, co-written and starred by Elena Martín Gimeno. It is shot in Catalan.

Creatura
Theatrical release poster
Directed byElena Martín Gimeno
Screenplay by
Starring
CinematographyAlana Mejía González
Edited byAriadna Ribas
Music byClara Aguilar
Production
companies
  • Vilaüt Films
  • Lastor Media
  • Elastica Films
  • Avalon PC
Distributed byAvalon
Release dates
  • 20 May 2023 (2023-05-20) (Cannes)
  • 8 September 2023 (2023-09-08) (Spain)
CountrySpain
LanguageCatalan

Plot edit

Upon moving in to a family summer house in the coastline of Maresme with boyfriend Marcel, Mila confronts sexual trauma, with flashbacks to her earliest moments of sexual awareness (5 years old) and her teenage years (15 years old).[1][2]

Cast edit

Production edit

The film was produced by Vilaüt Films, Lastor Media, Avalon PC, and Elastica Films.[4] It was produced in association with Suris/Bishop Film, and it had the participation of TV3 and Filmin and backing from ICAA, ICEC and Creative Media Europe.[4] It was shot in Catalan.[4] Shooting locations in Catalonia included Sant Vicenç de Montalt, L'Escala, Blanes, Barcelona, and Sitges.[4]

Release edit

The film world premiered in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2023.[5] Distributed by Avalon,[6] it was released theatrically in Spain on 8 September 2023.

Reception edit

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 93% based on 14 reviews from critics.[7]

Nikki Baughan of ScreenDaily considered that the film, an exploration of the "close relationship between guilt, shame and desire" should "attract attention for its female-centric story and strong visual identity".[1]

Dustin Chang of ScreenAnarchy deemed Creatura to be "an interesting film about how the female sexuality frightens men".[8]

Carlota Moseguí of Cinemanía rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, underscoring it to be "a strong claim on the exposure of female desire" in the verdict.[9]

Top ten lists edit

The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2023:

Accolades edit

Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Cannes Film Festival 27 May 2023 Europa Cinemas Label Prize for Best European Film (Directors' Fortnight) Elena Martín Won [16]
San Sebastián International Film Festival 30 September 2023 Dunia Ayaso Award Creatura Won [17]
Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival 8 December 2023 Prix Les Grenades Creatura Won [18]
Prix de la critique UPCB-UCC Won
Feroz Awards 26 January 2024 Best Director Elena Martín Gimeno Nominated
Best Screenplay Elena Martín Gimeno, Clara Roquet Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Oriol Pla Nominated
Gaudí Awards 4 February 2024 Best Film Creatura Won
Best Director Elena Martín Won
Best Original Screenplay Elena Martín, Clara Roquet Nominated
Best Actor Oriol Pla Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Clara Segura Won
Best Supporting Actor Àlex Brendemühl Won
Best New Performance Clàudia Malagelada Won
Best Cinematography Alana Mejía González Nominated
Best Editing Ariadna Ribas Won
Best Original Score Clara Aguilar Nominated
Best Art Direction Sylvia Steinbrecht Nominated
Best Production Supervision Andrés Mellinas Nominated
Best Sound Leo Dolgan, Oriol Donat, Laia Casanovas Nominated
Best Visual Effects Cristina Garmón Nominated
Best Makeup and Hairstyles Danae Gatell, Àlex Salvat Nominated
Goya Awards 10 February 2024 Best Director Elena Martín Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Clara Segura Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Alex Brendemühl Nominated
Best New Actress Clàudia Malagelada Nominated
Actors and Actresses Union Awards 12 March 2024 Best Film Actor in a Secondary Role Àlex Brendemühl Won

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Baughan, Nikki. "'Creatura': Cannes Review". ScreenDaily.
  2. ^ Medina, Marta (20 May 2023). "'Creatura': el despertar sexual de Elena Martín". El Confidencial.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Creatura". Quinzaine des cinéastes. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Elena Martín estrenará 'Creatura' en la Quincena de Realizadores de Cannes 2023". 18 April 2023.
  5. ^ Meseguer, Astrid (20 May 2023). "Elena Martín conquista Cannes con su valiente retrato de los traumas sobre la sexualidad femenina". La Vanguardia.
  6. ^ Sánchez Sequera, Marco (5 September 2023). "'Creatura' – estreno en cines 8 de septiembre". Audiovisual451.
  7. ^ "Creatura". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  8. ^ Chang, Dustin (20 May 2023). "Cannes 2023 Review: Creatura, Frightening Female Sexuality". ScreenAnarchy.
  9. ^ Moseguí, Carlota (5 September 2023). "Crítica de 'Creatura': thriller psicoanalítico sobre el despertar sexual de una mujer". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  10. ^ Medina, Marta (21 December 2023). "Las 10 mejores películas españolas de 2023: niños robados, sexualidad femenina y monjas, muchas monjas". El Confidencial.
  11. ^ Casas, Quim (22 December 2023). "Las 10 mejores películas españolas de 2023". El Periódico de Catalunya. Prensa Ibérica.
  12. ^ "Las 10 mejores películas españolas de 2023, el año de 'Cerrar los ojos'". El Cultural. 21 December 2023 – via El Español.
  13. ^ "Las mejores películas nacionales de 2023". Mondosonoro. 26 December 2023.
  14. ^ Martínez, Luis (21 December 2023). "Las 10 mejores películas españolas de 2023, de 'Zinzindurrunkarratz' a 'La mesita del comedor'". El Mundo.
  15. ^ Prieto, Belén; Morillo, Valentina (24 December 2023). "Las 10 mejores películas españolas de 2023". Series & Más – via El Español.
  16. ^ Roxborough, Scott (25 May 2023). "Cannes: Elena Martín Gimeno's 'Creatura' Wins Best European Film at Directors' Fortnight". The Hollywood Reporter.
  17. ^ Tinoco, Armando (30 September 2023). "San Sebastian Film Festival Winners: Jaione Camborda's 'The Rye Horn' Takes Golden Shell For Best Film". Deadline. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Bruxelles : affluence record au festival Cinemamed, qui décerne son Grand Prix au réalisateur turc Selman Nacar" (in French). RTBF. Belga. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Lista completa de nominados a los Premios Feroz 2024 con 'La Mesías' y 'Cerrar los ojos' como grandes favoritas". ABC. 23 November 2023.
  20. ^ Álvarez Patilla, Diego (27 January 2024). "» Cultura Premios Feroz 2024: '20.000 especies de abejas', 'Robot Dreams' y 'La Mesías' dominan la lista de ganadores". rtve.es.
  21. ^ Oteo, Jana (5 February 2024). "Premios Gaudí 2024: Lista completa de los ganadores". La Razón.
  22. ^ "Premios Goya 2024 | Palmarés completo: todos los ganadores de la gran noche de 'La sociedad de la nieve'". Cinemanía. 11 February 2024 – via 20minutos.es.
  23. ^ "Malena Alterio, Maribel Verdú, Lola Dueñas y Quim Gutiérrez, entre los protagonistas de los 32 Premios UA". Europa Press. 12 March 2024.

External links edit