Ramona is a 2022 Spanish independent comedy film written and directed by Andrea Bagney in her feature film directorial debut which stars Lourdes Hernández as the title character alongside Bruno Lastra and Francesco Carril. It is primarily shot in black and white.

Ramona
Directed byAndrea Bagney
Written byAndrea Bagney
Produced bySergio Uguet de Resayre
Starring
CinematographyPol Orpinell
Edited byPablo Barce
Production
company
Tortilla Films
Distributed byFilmin
Release dates
  • July 2022 (2022-07) (Karlovy Vary)
  • 25 November 2022 (2022-11-25) (Spain)
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

Plot

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Set in Madrid, the plot follows Ramona, who has returned to Madrid from London after years abroad,[1] and tries her luck as an actress. The plot then tracks the love triangle formed by Ramona, Bruno (the director of the film she has auditioned for) and Ramona's longtime boyfriend Nico.[2]

Cast

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Production

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A Tortilla Films production,[1] Ramona was written by the helmer Andrea Bagney.[3] Pol Orpinell worked as cinematographer.[3] Filming began in Madrid on 29 April 2021.[3] Shot in black and white, the film goes full color in the segments in which the title character (a wannabe actress) is being filmed.[2]

Release

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The film had its world premiere in July 2022 at the 56th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, selected in the festival's 'Proxima' slate.[4][5] Filmin acquired the Spanish rights to the film whereas Best Friend Forever handled the international sales.[1][6] It was theatrically released in Spain on 25 November 2022, followed by a December 2022 streaming release on Filmin.[7]

Reception

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According to the American review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, Ramona has a 100% approval rating based on 5 reviews from critics, with an average rating of 8.0/10.[8]

Jonathan Holland of ScreenDaily considered that Hernández "is always an engrossing presence in a role that demands a variety of registers", otherwise pointing out that "the spirit of the French New Wave lives on" Bagney's debut film, finding stylistic affinities between the helmer and Jonás Trueba.[9]

Anna Smith of Deadline Hollywood deemed the film to be "a sharp, urban character portrait with a relationship that may or may not be romantic, yet engages to the end", singling out Hernández and Bagney as talents to follow.[2]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2022 17th Rome Film Festival Best Screenplay Andrea Bagney Won [10]
'Ugo Tognazzi' Award Won

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Gottlieb, Susanne (8 July 2022). "Review: Ramona". Cineuropa.
  2. ^ a b c Smith, Anna (11 July 2022). "Karlovy Vary Review: 'Ramona'". Deadline Hollywood.
  3. ^ a b c "Andrea Bagney y Pol Orpinell ruedan 'Ramona' en 16mm". Camera and Light Mag. 5 May 2021.
  4. ^ "'Tenéis que venir a verla' y 'La piedad' reciben el Premio Especial del Jurado en el Festival de Karlovy Vary 2022". Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte. 11 July 2022.
  5. ^ Roxborough, Scott (2 September 2022). "Oldenburg Festival Unveils Lineup, Opening Night Film". The Hollywood Reporter.
  6. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (27 June 2022). "Spanish Romantic Comedy 'Ramona' Boarded by Best Friend Forever, Filmin (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  7. ^ "'La Piedad', de Eduardo Casanova, y 'Ramona', de Andrea Bagney: películas de inauguración y clausura del Rizoma". Camera Light and Mag. 20 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Ramona". RottenTomatoes. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  9. ^ Holland, Jonathan (5 July 2022). "'Ramona': Karlovy Vary Review". ScreenDaily.
  10. ^ Scarpa, Vittoria (24 October 2022). "January triumphs at the 17th Rome Film Festival". Cineuropa.