The Teacher Who Promised the Sea

The Teacher Who Promised the Sea (El maestro que prometió el mar) is a 2023 Spanish historical drama film directed by Patricia Font from a screenplay by Albert Val, based on the book by Francesc Escribano. It stars Enric Auquer and Laia Costa alongside Luisa Gavasa.

Plot
The plot tracks the story of Catalan teacher Antoni Benaiges, destined in 1935 to a small village in the province of Burgos (introducing innovative and inspiring teaching methods from France among the children before being murdered by Falangists during the Civil War), as well as the present-day story of Ariadna, searching for her great-grandfather, disappeared during the War.

Production
Penned by Albert Val, the screenplay is an adaptation of the book by Francesc Escribano. The film is a Minoria Absoluta, Lastor Media, Filmax, and Mestres Films AIE production with the participation of RTVE and TV3 and backing from ICAA and ICEC. Shooting locations included Mura and Briviesca.

Release
The film had its world premiere at the 68th Valladolid International Film Festival on 27 October 2023. Distributed by Filmax, it was released theatrically in Spain on 10 November 2023. It opened in only 83 screens, but the satisfactory box office performance (with a positive weekly change in the gross reportedly owing to the word of mouth) led to an increase in the number of screens up to 124.

Reception
Ekaitz Ortega of HobbyConsolas rated the film with 73 points ('good') highlighting how it "has its own identity, it is not complacent and the two [lead] actors standing out", as the best things about it.

Enid Román Almansa of Cinemanía rated the film 4½ out of 5 stars underscoring "a very sad and terrible story, a very beautiful film".

Jason Blake of Limelight rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, deeming it to be "a powerful reminder that the scars of Spain's 20th century history are everywhere".

Accolades

 * rowspan = "13" | 2024 || rowspan = "2" | 11th Feroz Awards || Best Actor in a Film || Enric Auquer || Nominated || rowspan = "2" |
 * Best Supporting Actress in a Film || Luisa Gavasa || Nominated
 * rowspan = "6" | 16th Gaudí Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Non-Catalan Language Film || Nominated || rowspan = "6" |
 * Best Adapted Screenplay || Albert Val || Nominated
 * Best Actor || Enric Auquer || Nominated
 * Best Art Direction || Josep Rosell || Nominated
 * Best Costume Design || Maria Armengol || Nominated
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Patricia Reyes || Nominated
 * rowspan = "5" | 38th Goya Awards || Best Adapted Screenplay || Albert Val || Nominated || rowspan = "5" |
 * Best Actor || Enric Auquer || Nominated
 * Best Supporting Actress || Luisa Gavasa || Nominated
 * Best Original Score || Natasha Arizu || Nominated
 * Best Costume Design || Maria Armengol || Nominated
 * }
 * Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Patricia Reyes || Nominated
 * rowspan = "5" | 38th Goya Awards || Best Adapted Screenplay || Albert Val || Nominated || rowspan = "5" |
 * Best Actor || Enric Auquer || Nominated
 * Best Supporting Actress || Luisa Gavasa || Nominated
 * Best Original Score || Natasha Arizu || Nominated
 * Best Costume Design || Maria Armengol || Nominated
 * }
 * Best Supporting Actress || Luisa Gavasa || Nominated
 * Best Original Score || Natasha Arizu || Nominated
 * Best Costume Design || Maria Armengol || Nominated
 * }
 * Best Costume Design || Maria Armengol || Nominated
 * }