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The Motive

Original title: El autor
  • 20172017
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
5.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Javier Gutiérrez in El autor (2017)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:58
2 Videos
20 Photos
  • Adventure
  • Comedy
  • Crime

A man obsessed with the idea of writing "high literature" starts to cause conflicts around him to write about it.A man obsessed with the idea of writing "high literature" starts to cause conflicts around him to write about it.A man obsessed with the idea of writing "high literature" starts to cause conflicts around him to write about it.

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
5.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Manuel Martín Cuenca
  • Writers
    • Javier Cercas(novel)
    • Alejandro Hernández
    • Manuel Martín Cuenca
  • Stars
    • Javier Gutiérrez
    • María León
    • Adelfa Calvo
Top credits
  • Director
    • Manuel Martín Cuenca
  • Writers
    • Javier Cercas(novel)
    • Alejandro Hernández
    • Manuel Martín Cuenca
  • Stars
    • Javier Gutiérrez
    • María León
    • Adelfa Calvo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 24User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 58Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 18 wins & 30 nominations

    Videos2

    Tráiler [OVS]
    Trailer 1:58
    Tráiler [OVS]
    Tráiler [OV]
    Trailer 1:59
    Tráiler [OV]

    Photos20

    Javier Gutiérrez and Adriana Paz in El autor (2017)
    Antonio de la Torre and Javier Gutiérrez in El autor (2017)
    Javier Gutiérrez in El autor (2017)
    Javier Gutiérrez in El autor (2017)
    Antonio de la Torre and María León in El autor (2017)
    Javier Gutiérrez in El autor (2017)
    Javier Gutiérrez and Adelfa Calvo in El autor (2017)
    Javier Gutiérrez in El autor (2017)
    Antonio de la Torre and Manuel Martín Cuenca in El autor (2017)
    Javier Gutiérrez and Manuel Martín Cuenca in El autor (2017)
    Javier Gutiérrez and Manuel Martín Cuenca in El autor (2017)
    Manuel Martín Cuenca in El autor (2017)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Javier Gutiérrez
    Javier Gutiérrez
    • Álvaroas Álvaro
    María León
    María León
    • Amandaas Amanda
    Adelfa Calvo
    Adelfa Calvo
    • Porteraas Portera
    Adriana Paz
    • Ireneas Irene
    Tenoch Huerta
    Tenoch Huerta
    • Enriqueas Enrique
    Rafael Téllez
    • Sr. Monteroas Sr. Montero
    Antonio de la Torre
    Antonio de la Torre
    • Juanas Juan
    Domi del Postigo
    • Presentadoras Presentador
    José Carlos Carmona
    • Jesúsas Jesús
    Alberto González
    • Don Alfonsoas Don Alfonso
    Craig Stevenson
    Craig Stevenson
    • Craig McCallan (Conferenciante)as Craig McCallan (Conferenciante)
    José Chaves
    José Chaves
    • Marido Porteraas Marido Portera
    Juanfra Juárez
    • Álexas Álex
    Juan Carlos Villanueva
    • Juezas Juez
    Amanuel Cadaval
    • Niñoas Niño
    Fran Torres
    • Portero discoteca - aparcacochesas Portero discoteca - aparcacoches
    Moisés Suárez
    • Guardia Civilas Guardia Civil
    José Antonio Aguilar
    • Cliente notaríaas Cliente notaría
    • Director
      • Manuel Martín Cuenca
    • Writers
      • Javier Cercas(novel)
      • Alejandro Hernández
      • Manuel Martín Cuenca
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Álvaro is a man from Sevilla (Andalucía, south to Spain). Poor and clumsy, without imagination and inspiration to write, he works as accountant in a notary and he is married to Amanda, who unexpectedly became famous after writing her first novel. Dreaming about writing the great novel of all time and surpassing Amanda, Álvaro goes to night class of literature, asking help from his teacher José in order to find the keys to make it. After discovering Amanda being unfaithful with another man, Álvaro is suggested by his boss Don Alfonso to take a little vacation. Moving to a new building, Álvaro passes the days trying to write in an insistently and obsessively way, without any success. Meeting his new neighbors, among them are Enrique and Irene (two Mexican immigrants with money troubles by the imminent dismissal of Enrique of his work), Sr. Montero (an old man and former military, with extreme right-wing ideas from the old Franco's Regime), and the caretaker of the building, an unsatisfied mature woman used by Álvaro to obtain information. Lying to Enrique about his possibilities to recover his work, Álvaro starts manipulating all around him to write the perfect novel, twisting the events to force Enrique to kill Montero by the enormous richness he keeps in his home. But the situation soon becomes out of control, with the limited imagination of Álvaro unable to understand that is really what happens and how will end his highly longed for perfect novel. —Chockys
    • caught cheating
    • husband wife rivalry
    • voyeur
    • performance
    • lonely man
    • 304 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • TV-MA
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Quotes

      Juan: Who the hell is this James? And Rose? What the hell is up with them? All this has no soul. It has no soul, because you don't know what the hell you're talking about ! You don't know what the hell you're talking about ! The reality is out there. I've told you all a thousand times, roll your sleeves up, get out there, look around for stories. How many times did I tell you that?

    • Connections
      Referenced in Lo siguiente: Javier Gutiérrez (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Algunas veces
      Written and performed by José Luis Perales

    User reviews24

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Fabulous idea and excellent acting
    Typical Spanish movie that reveals the darkness of humanity. The twist in the end is a little rush but the whole idea of the story is still very intriguing to me. 7 stars for the story and 2 stars for Javier Gutiérrez's great acting.
    helpful•4
    3
    • l-72630
    • Mar 23, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 17, 2017 (Spain)
    • Countries of origin
      • Spain
      • Mexico
    • Languages
      • Spanish
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Mobile
    • Filming locations
      • Paseo de la O, Sevilla, Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain
    • Production companies
      • Icónica Producciones
      • Alebrije Cine y Video
      • Canal Sur Televisión
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €2,300,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $772,690
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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