El portero (2000)

Director:

Gonzalo Suárez

Writers:

Manuel Hidalgo (story), Gonzalo Suárez

Stars:

Carmelo Gómez, Maribel Verdú, Antonio Resines

1 win & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Carmelo Gómez	...	Forteza
Maribel Verdú	...	Manuela
Antonio Resines	...	Sargento Andrade
Roberto Álvarez	...	Don Constantino
Eduard Fernández	...	Nardo
Elvira Mínguez	...	Úrsula
Abel Vitón	...	Doctor
Andoni Gracia	...	Emilio
Julio Vélez	...	López
Adrián Ramírez	...	Tito
Mario Martín	...	Lisardo
Felipe Vélez	...	Concojo
Carolina Bona	...	Felisa
Alex O'Dogherty	...	Orozco
José Alias	...	Buhonero

Storyline

---

Plot Keywords:

civil war | female nudity | soccer | nationalism

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Lolafilms (distributor)

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

8 September 2000 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Sfida per la vittoria

Filming Locations:

Asturias, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lolafilms, Televisión Española (TVE), Vía Digital

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Corrientes y esmeraldas"
Written by Celedonio Flores and Francisco Pracanico (as Francesco Pracanio)

User Reviews

Gorgeous movie splendidly set and with wonderful outdoors from mountains , countryside and beaches

This is a magic story about a soccer player and a widow set during post-Spanish Civil War . 1948 , while driving his truck , throughout an abandoned way , Forteza (Carmelo Gomez) , a previous football player , stops when he watches a wounded man (Eduardo Fernandez) in the middle of the road . This man asks to be taken to a nearby village so his wound can be healed . The wounded man is part of a communist guerrilla called ¨Maquis¨ , irregular soldiers who fought Franco Regime in the North Spain . In a village Forteza meets a beautiful widow named Manuela (Maribel Verdu) , who is a sister of the man he helped . The seaside village is inhabited by diverse people : the priest (Roberto Alvarez) , the doctor (Abel Viton) , the Buhonero (Jose Alias) , deputies of Guardia Civil , among others . Forteza has an spectacle in which he competes with the locals of any village in his itinerary challenging them to attempt to make a goal . Things get worse when Andrade (Antonio Resines) , Sergeant of the Civil Guards challenges Forteza to a competition between the army force and the villagers .

Drama with historical and romantic elements , a little bit of comedy and rural habits ; including enjoyable performances and adequate set design . Set in Northern Spain during the years that followed the Civil War (1936-1939) , as the picture results to be other of the innumerable stories to deal with dramatic deeds regarding the Civil War background or its aftermath , in this case deals with fighters battling the new regime of Franco , attempting to do harm wherever they could , as this guerrilla roaming the mountains of Northern Spain and undertaking raids and unexpected attacks to government forces . A familiar theme about the global horrors of a fratricide war , impossible to forget to our cinema . This is an agreeable story plenty of enjoyable moments , moving feelings and attractive finale . Director Gonzalo Suarez, also writes the interesting script along with prestigious screenwriter Manuel Hidalgo who also wrote the original story . Filmed in his usual formal and stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the thought-provoking issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . The flick can be defined as a realistic drama , a romantic history , a historic fresco and a socio-political fable . Good performances from a Spanish all-star cast such as Garmelo Gomez as an itinerant former soccer star , a a skillful sportsman with a great record , though now is a bit older to be playing professionally, Maribel Verdu as a lonely widow , Roberto Alvarez as a likable priest , Eduardo Fernandez as a fighter , Antonio Resines as a stiff sergeant and Elvira Minguez as his adulterous wife . The film was compellingly shot , though in its final takes place some ridiculous scenes as when the unreal confrontation between Guardia Civil and Guerrilla on the beach . Anyway, it's is compensated with the great performances from main cast and competent secondary support , interpreters who provided a considerable boost to the result . Lively and emotive musical score with catching leitmotif by Carles Cases . Colorful and brilliant cinematography by Carlos Suarez , brother's director , being filmed on marvelous landscapes from Llanes (Asturias) , location where the filmmaker directs most his flicks .

Direction by Gonzalo Suarez is pretty good , he shows his skill for edition , realizing long shots with crowd who moves easily especially on his ending , during soccer competition . Gonzalo Suarez is a good craftsman who has directed several films from the 60s . He excelled at bringing to life tautly written tales about strange characters facing difficult circumstances and dealing with thought-provoking , brooding stories . Throughout his career he regularly alternated hits with misses . He has stylistic trademarks , but also been criticized for his slow-moving films , though his best flicks remain exciting to watch . Among his most important pictures , mostly dramas , are the following : 1994 The detective and death , 1992 La Reina Anónima , 1991 Don Juan en Infiernos ,1988 Rowing with the wind , 1984 Epílogo ,1977 Parranda , 1977 Reina Zanahoria , 1976 Beatriz , 1975 La Regenta , 1974 La Loba y la Paloma .