Savages (2001 film)

Savages (Salvajes) is a 2001 drama film directed by Carlos Molinero based on the play of the same name by José Luis Alonso de Santos. It stars Marisa Paredes and Imanol Arias.

Plot
The fiction is set in Valencia, in the Mediterranean coast. A nurse (Berta) feels obliged to provide support to her deceased sister's three orphaned children: Raúl and Guillermo (two males members of neo-Nazi groupuscules), and Lucía (infatuated with Fausto, involved in the smuggling of immigrants to Europe). Berta's love affair with Eduardo (a policeman suffering from cirrhosis and Berta's patient) is disrupted by the latter's suspicion about the brutal murder of an immigrant, which the policeman attributes to Berta's nephews.

Production
An adaptation of the 1998 play Salvajes by José Luis Alonso de Santos, the screenplay was penned by Jorge Juan Martínez, Carlos Molinero, Clara Pérez Escrivá, and Salvador Maldonado.

The film was produced by Lola Salvador's production company Brothers & Sisters alongside Passion Walls and Línea Sur PC, and it had the participation of TVE and Canal+.

Release
Distributed by Alta Classics, the film was theatrically released in Spain on 28 September 2001. It was also selected for the 49th San Sebastián International Film Festival's 'New Directors' lineup.

Reception
David Rooney of Variety deemed the "gritty, gripping tale of fanatical hatred in coastal Valencia" to be "stylishly directed and convincingly performed by a strong cast", adherence to the "vogue for convulsive hand-held camerawork" notwithstanding.

Accolades

 * rowspan = "3" align = "center" | 2002 || rowspan = "3" | 16th Goya Awards || Best New Director || Carlos Molinero || Nominated || rowspan = "3" |
 * Best Adapted Screenplay || Jorge Juan Martínez, Carlos Molinero, Clara Pérez Escrivá, Salvador Maldonado || Won
 * Best New Actress || María Isasi || Nominated
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 * Best New Actress || María Isasi || Nominated
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