Cell 211 (2009)

The story of two men on different sides of a prison riot -- the inmate leading the rebellion and the young guard trapped in the revolt, who poses as a prisoner in a desperate attempt to survive the ordeal.

Director:

Daniel Monzón

Writers:

Jorge Guerricaechevarría (adaptation), Daniel Monzón (adaptation)

Stars:

Luis Tosar, Alberto Ammann, Antonio Resines

44 wins & 27 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Luis Tosar	...	Malamadre
Alberto Ammann	...	Juan Oliver
Antonio Resines	...	José Utrilla
Manuel Morón	...	Ernesto Almansa
Carlos Bardem	...	Apache
Marta Etura	...	Elena
Luis Zahera	...	Releches
Fernando Soto	...	Armando Nieto
Vicente Romero	...	Tachuela
Manolo Solo	...	Director cárcel
Patxi Bisquert	...	Jon Arteaga 'Potolo'
Josean Bengoetxea	...	Antxon Elorza 'El Profesor'
Anartz Zuazua	...	Asier Urruticoechea 'El Txiqui'
Miguel Martín	...	Pincho
Félix Cubero	...	Germán

Storyline

Juan Oliver wants to make a good impression at his new job as a prison officer and reports to work a day early, leaving his pregnant wife, Elena, at home. His destiny is forever changed by this fateful decision, as during his tour of the prison, an accident occurs that knocks him unconscious. He is rushed to the empty but visibly haunted walls of cell 211. As this diversion unfolds, inmates of the high security cell block strategically break free and hijack the penitentiary. Aware of the violence that is to come, the prison officers flee, leaving Juan stranded and unconscious in the heart of the riot. When Juan awakens, he immediately takes stock of the situation; in order to survive, he must pretend to be a prisoner. Juan develops a dialogue with the violent leader of the riot, Badass, and the two begin a partnership, Badass fully believing that Juan is a new inmate. Negotiations go smoothly until the rioters take three ETA (the militant Basque separatist organization) prisoners ...

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Plot Keywords:

spain | caligula character | prison riot | penitentiary | walkie talkie | 

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Taglines:

A riot, a man trapped, a single goal, survive

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official [Spain]

Country:

Spain France

Language:

Spanish Basque English

Release Date:

6 November 2009 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Cell 211

Filming Locations:

Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$5,700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,056,510 (Spain), 6 November 2009, Limited Release

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$19,300,483, 31 December 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+ España, Canal+, La Fabrique 2

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Juan José Ballesta auditioned several times for a role.

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Goofs

When the minister is heading to the prison, the car he is driven in is shown as an Audi A6 (1997) from the front, when arriving to the prison the car is shown from behind, but this is an Audi A8 (2005) model.

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Quotes

Malamadre: Where did you come from?
Juan Oliver: From 211.
Malamadre: That cell was empty.
Juan Oliver: Not anymore.

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Connections

Remade as Cell 211

User Reviews

Brilliant story about friendship, corruption, and codes that are more valuable and important than labels and uniforms.

Guerricaechevarria does it again, writing a brutal story of loyalty, friendship and guts.

The acting is great, well directed and well filmed. The characters are extremely real and believable.

In the end, everyone shows it's real face. Ethics and Character are put in a first plane, leaving uniforms, social class, education and every possible label behind. For some, it's every man for itself, and for others, it's justice or death.

This movie is extremely violent but not at a physical level, and delivers pure emotions throughout it's whole plot. It'll keep you at the edge of your seat for two hours, and leave you thinking about it for days.