The Goalkeeper (2000 film)

The Goalkeeper (El portero) is a 2000 Spanish drama film directed by Gonzalo Suárez which stars Carmelo Gómez as the title character alongside Maribel Verdú and Antonio Resines.

Plot
The plot follows the mishaps of Ramiro Forteza, a goalie arriving to an Asturian village in 1948, coming to acquaint both with the Guardia Civil and the Maquis.

Production
The screenplay was penned by Gonzalo Suárez alongside Manuel Hidalgo Ruiz, based on an original story by Hidalgo. The film was produced by Andrés Vicente Gómez's Lolafilms, and it had the participation of TVE and Vía Digital. Set to start filming, Suárez announced his film to be primarily a western ("although it will also have that perverse mix of genres that I like so much"). It was shot around Llanes, Asturias, including the beaches of Toró Beach, Barru and Borizu Beach.

Release
Distributed by Lolafilms Distribución, the film was theatrically released in Spain on 8 September 2000.

Reception
Jonathan Holland of Variety deemed the film to be "an accomplished, surprisingly low-key historical piece", with "a strong, high-profile cast of solid pros" breathing "convincing life into a delicate, resonant and surprisingly contemporary little parable", otherwise with the director's "tendency toward the histrionic" being "kept under control".

Accolades

 * rowspan = "2" align = "center" | 2001 || rowspan = "2" | 15th Goya Awards || Best Actor || Carmelo Gómez || Nominated || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Adapted Screenplay || Manuel Hidalgo, Gonzalo Suárez || Nominated
 * }
 * Best Adapted Screenplay || Manuel Hidalgo, Gonzalo Suárez || Nominated
 * }