La casa (2024 film)

La casa is a 2024 Spanish slice-of-life drama film directed by Álex Montoya based on the graphic novel of the same name by Paco Roca. Its ensemble cast features David Verdaguer, Luis Callejo, Óscar de la Fuente, Olivia Molina, María Romanillos, Lorena López, Marta Belenguer, Jordi Aguilar, Tosca Montoya, and Miguel Rellán.

Plot
Three siblings, coping with the grief of their father's death in different ways, confront the dilemma of what to do with the house their father built.

Production
Montoya decided to shoot the film after being gifted the graphic novel, but according to him, it took him nearly seven years to develop the project. The film is a Raw Pictures, Nakamura Films, and Haciendo la casa AIE production, with the participation of RTVE, À Punt, and CreaSGR, the funding from ICAA, ICO, and the collaboration of IVC. Digital tweaks were used to de-age Miguel Rellán in some past scenes. It was shot in locations of the Valencia region, including the house in Olocau that inspired the story by Paco Roca.

Release
The film was presented at the 27th Málaga Film Festival on 5 March 2024. Distributed by A Contracorriente Films, was released theatrically in Spain on 1 May 2024.

Reception
Javier Ocaña of El País wrote that Montoya adapts Roca's work "with the calm, subtlety, verve, delicacy and truth of small great works".

Quim Casas of El Periódico de Catalunya rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, deeming it to be "an almost surgical drama, very restrained".

Irene Crespo of Cinemanía rated the film 3½ out of 5 stars, deeming it to be "the adaptation of the graphic novel that Paco Roca deserved".

Pere Vall of Fotogramas rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting some scenes featuring Verdaguer vs. Rellán and Verdaguer vs. de la Fuente as the best things about the film.

Fran González of Mondo Sonoro gave the film 9 out of 10 points considering it a "solid and plain candidate for best national film of the year" also pointing out that it manages to dignify "the already hackneyed label of intimate drama".

Accolades

 * rowspan = "3" | 2024 || rowspan = "3" | 27th Málaga Film Festival || Best Screenplay || Álex Montoya, Joana M. Ortueta || Won || rowspan = "3" |
 * Best Music || Fernando Velázquez || Won
 * colspan = "2" | Audience Award || Won
 * }
 * colspan = "2" | Audience Award || Won
 * }
 * }