The August Virgin

The August Virgin (La virgen de agosto) is a 2019 Spanish drama film directed by Jonás Trueba which stars Itsaso Arana. The film was written by Trueba alongside Arana.

Plot
Eva, an out-of-work actress aged 33 who is on her own, decides not to go away during the heat of August but to stay in Madrid, where a friend lets her have the use of his central apartment. She resolves to get to know the city and its inhabitants by just letting things happen. Wandering about the streets and dropping into bars, she meets old friends and makes new friends, both men and women.

Walking home in the early hours, she sees a man she fears is going to jump from a bridge and she hastily starts a conversation to distract him. He is Agos, who was just having a quiet cigarette before going to the bar where his girlfriend works. The Next evening, Eva follows Agos into the bar and continues the conversation. He is an out-of-work actor, separated from his wife and little daughter, who lives by odd jobs in bars. She goes back to his flat and they make love, after which she admits that she is pregnant. Later, when his daughter asks who the father is and Eva replies that she does not know, the little girl says that's just like the Virgin Mary.

Production
The August Virgin was written by director Jonás Trueba alongside leading actress Itsaso Arana. The crew was completed by the likes of Santiago Racaj (cinematography), Marta Velasco (editing), Miguel Ángel Rebollo (art direction) and Laura Renau (costume direction).

The film was produced by Los Ilusos Films and La Virgen de Agosto AIE, and it had the participation from ICAA, the regional administration and Telemadrid. It was fully shot in Madrid in the Summer of 2018, from late July to mid August, during the verbenas of San Cayetano, San Lorenzo, and La Paloma.

Some of the outdoor locations include the Plaza de Cascorro, Plaza de Gabriel Miró, Plaza de la Paja, Calle de Argumosa, Calle de Santa Ana, Calle de las Dos Hermanas, the Temple of Debod, Jardines de Las Vistillas, Calle de Bailén, the Sabatini Gardens, the Círculo de Bellas Artes, Madrid Río or the Segovia Viaduct.

Release
The August Virgin made its world premiere at the 54th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (28 June – 6 July 2019), as part of the festival's competitive lineup. Distributed by BTeam Pictures, the film was theatrically released in Spain on 15 August 2019. It premiered in France on 5 August 2020.

Awards and nominations

 * align = "center" rowspan = "2" | 2019 || rowspan = "2" | 24th Toulouse Spanish Film Festival || Best Actress || Itsaso Arana || Won || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Screenplay || Jonás Trueba & Itsaso Arana || Won
 * align=center|2020||7th Feroz Awards||Best Film Poster||Laura Renau||Nominated||align=center|
 * align=center|2021||46th César Awards||colspan=2|Best Foreign Film||Nominated||
 * }
 * align=center|2020||7th Feroz Awards||Best Film Poster||Laura Renau||Nominated||align=center|
 * align=center|2021||46th César Awards||colspan=2|Best Foreign Film||Nominated||
 * }
 * }