The Motive (film)

The Motive (El autor) is a 2017 Spanish-Mexican drama film directed by Manuel Martín Cuenca, from a screenplay by Alejandro Hernández and Martín Cuenca. It stars Javier Gutiérrez alongside María León and Antonio de la Torre.

The film premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.

Plot
Álvaro separates from his wife Amanda, an elated best-seller writer, and motivated by her success, makes up his mind to write a great novel. Problem is, he lacks talent and imagination. He figures out that great fiction is drawn from reality, and he begins to manipulate his neighbors and to get involved in their lives in order to find inspiration for his writing.

Critical reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 60%, based on 20 reviews, and an average rating of 6.8/10.

Accolades

 * rowspan = "24" | 2018
 * rowspan = "3" | 23rd Forqué Awards
 * colspan = "2" | Best Film || Won || rowspan = "3" |
 * Best Actor || Javier Gutiérrez || Won
 * Best Actress || Adelfa Calvo || Nominated
 * rowspan = "8" | 5th Feroz Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Drama || Nominated || rowspan = "8" |
 * Best Director || Manuel Martín Cuenca || Nominated
 * Best Screenplay || Alejandro Hernández, Manuel Martín Cuenca || Nominated
 * Best Actor in a Film || Javier Gutiérrez || Won
 * Best Supporting Actress in a Film || Adelfa Calvo || Won
 * Best Supporting Actor in a Film || Antonio de la Torre || Nominated
 * Best Original Soundtrack || José Luis Perales, Pablo Perales || Nominated
 * Best Trailer || Fernando Vallarino || Nominated
 * rowspan = "9" | 32nd Goya Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Film || Nominated || rowspan = "9" |
 * Best Director
 * Manuel Martín Cuenca
 * Nominated
 * Best Adapted Screenplay
 * Alejandro Hernández, Manuel Martín Cuenca
 * Nominated
 * Best Actor
 * Javier Gutiérrez
 * Won
 * Best Supporting Actress
 * Adelfa Calvo
 * Won
 * Best Supporting Actor
 * Antonio de la Torre
 * Nominated
 * Best New Actress
 * Adriana Paz
 * Nominated
 * Best Sound
 * Daniel de Zayas, Pelayo Gutiérrez, Alberto Ovejero
 * Nominated
 * Best Original Song
 * "Algunas veces" by José Luis Perales
 * Nominated
 * rowspan = "3" | 27th Actors and Actresses Union Awards
 * Best Film Actor in a Leading Role || Javier Gutiérrez || Won || rowspan = "3" |
 * Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role || Adelfa Calvo || Won
 * Best Film Actor in a Secondary Role || Antonio de la Torre || Nominated
 * 5th Platino Awards || Best Actor || Javier Gutiérrez || Nominated ||
 * }
 * Antonio de la Torre
 * Nominated
 * Best New Actress
 * Adriana Paz
 * Nominated
 * Best Sound
 * Daniel de Zayas, Pelayo Gutiérrez, Alberto Ovejero
 * Nominated
 * Best Original Song
 * "Algunas veces" by José Luis Perales
 * Nominated
 * rowspan = "3" | 27th Actors and Actresses Union Awards
 * Best Film Actor in a Leading Role || Javier Gutiérrez || Won || rowspan = "3" |
 * Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role || Adelfa Calvo || Won
 * Best Film Actor in a Secondary Role || Antonio de la Torre || Nominated
 * 5th Platino Awards || Best Actor || Javier Gutiérrez || Nominated ||
 * }
 * Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role || Adelfa Calvo || Won
 * Best Film Actor in a Secondary Role || Antonio de la Torre || Nominated
 * 5th Platino Awards || Best Actor || Javier Gutiérrez || Nominated ||
 * }
 * 5th Platino Awards || Best Actor || Javier Gutiérrez || Nominated ||
 * }
 * }

Curiosity
Some of the "penguins scene" from Werner Herzog's Encounters at the End of the World is featured in the first scene.