Scent of a Crime

Scent of a Crime (El aire de un crimen) is a 1988 Spanish rural crime drama film directed by Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi consisting of an adaptation of the novel El aire de un crimen by Juan Benet. The cast features Paco Rabal, Maribel Verdú, Chema Mazo, Fernando Rey and Germán Cobos, among others.

Plot
Set in 1950s Spain, the plot tracks the developments after a corpse belonging to a stranger is found in the village of Bocentellas, located in the territory of 'Región'. Upon the arrival of the magistrate, the corpse has been replaced by a different one.

Production
The film is an Isasi PC production. Shooting locations included Calatayud (province of Zaragoza) and the neighbouring La Tranquera reservoir.

Release
The film was presented at the 36th San Sebastián International Film Festival's official selection in September 1988. Distributed by Tripictures, the film was theatrically released in Spain on 28 October 1988.

Reception
Octavi Martí of El País considered that the overly "flat" cinematography "does not always do justice to the locations and characters", adding up to other flaws that underpin a somewhat "dusty scent" relatable not just to a film set in the 1950s, but to a film shot then too.

Accolades

 * align = "center" | 1988 || 36th San Sebastián International Film Festival || Silver Shell for Best Actor || Fernando Rey || Won || align = "center" |
 * align = "center" | 1989 || 3rd Goya Awards || Best Adapted Screenplay || Gabriel Castro, Antonio Isasi Isasmendi, Jorge R. Álamo || Nominated || align = "center" |
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 * align = "center" | 1989 || 3rd Goya Awards || Best Adapted Screenplay || Gabriel Castro, Antonio Isasi Isasmendi, Jorge R. Álamo || Nominated || align = "center" |
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