13/06/2023 - The film tells of the experiences of a girl in 1980s Seville, the director’s birthplace

Paz Vega and DoP Eva Díaz during the shoot for Rita (© Manu Trillo)

Internationally renowned for her roles in Sex and Lucia [+see also:
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film profile] by Julio Medem, Talk to Her [+see also:
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film profile] by Pedro Almodóvar and Spanglish by James L Brooks, Spanish actress Paz Vega is now stepping behind the camera for the first time to shoot the story of two siblings growing up in Seville prior to the Expo ’92. The film stars two young first-timers, Sofía Allepuz and Alejandro Escamilla, seasoned thesp Roberto Álamo (seen recently in Golem [+see also:
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interview: Burnin’ Percebes
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interview: Iñaki Sánchez Arrieta
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interview: Rodrigo Sorogoyen
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The screenplay, also written by the director, revolves around Rita and Lolo, respectively seven and five years old, who are growing up in a humble working-class family in 1980s Seville. As the summer holidays begin, the entire country is in a frenzy because of the 1984 UEFA European Football Championship, in which Spain has got to the quarterfinals. The heat is stifling, and Rita dreams of going to the beach, but life in her neighbourhood has other surprises in store for her. The storyline, which is supposedly inspired by the director’s own experiences, promises to be both sensitive and genuine.

The team sought a cast primarily made up of Andalusian actors, with the objective of lending authenticity to the story, and reflecting the local customs and manners of the city in the years prior to the famous Expo. Meanwhile, the cinematography has been entrusted to expert DoP Eva Díaz (Dioses y perros [+see also:
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film profile], Selfie [+see also:
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interview: Víctor García León
film profile]). “With this project, I wish to capture my vision of life from a director’s perspective, and tell a tale that will connect with the audience, as seen through a girl’s eyes,” states the director. “I hope that Rita will be a film that touches the heart of every single viewer because, even though it unfolds in a specific time and place, the rite of passage that we will see is universal.”

On the other hand, producer Gonzalo Bendala, who got the project off the ground together with Marta Velasco, his colleague from Áralan Films, exclusively told Cineuropa: “Paz has extensive experience as an actress and has worked with some highly renowned filmmakers. This means that she’s not your typical first-time director: she has a very clear idea of the film she wants to make and how she wants to tell the story; she is completely at ease moving around the set, and she’s totally comfortable with all of the technical aspects. It’s proving to be a very smooth shoot.”

Thanks to the movie’s clear cultural relevance and marked mainstream aspirations, Áralan Films, in association with Oda Films, has secured the involvement of Canal Sur, grants from the ICAA and the AAIICC – Andalusian Agency of Cultural Institutions, and funding from Triodos Bank and Crea SGR, making for a total budget of €2 million. Principal photography is taking place entirely in Andalusia, with is focal point being the city of Seville, and it will continue until 3 July. The Spanish theatrical release and international sales will be handled by Filmax.

(Translated from Spanish)