Since they recorded the album 'Omega' in late 1996, together with Enrique Morente, one of the most important works in the Spanish music industry, Lagartija Nick have established themselves as an essential part of Spanish rock. Closely linked to the authors of the Generation of '27, Lagartija Nick from Granada are brought together in the documentary 'Generación Lagartija', presented this Saturday at the Teatro Echegaray, as part of the Official Documentary Section Out of Competition of the 27th Festival de Málaga.

Directed by César Martínez Herrada, the documentary takes us to a surreal and innovative place, taking us on a journey through their conceptual albums inspired by the historical avant-garde of the 20th century. Through 16 mm films, poetry and, of course, the most rocking and innovative music of the last few years, 'Generación Lagartija' not only introduces us to the members of the band from Granada, but also to such beloved characters as García Lorca, Val del Omar or Luis Buñuel.

According to the filmmaker from Madrid, the format chosen for the film is not a coincidence, but a tribute to the black and white films of Val del Omar and Buñuel, and at all times he had in mind adjusting the film to the spirit of those years. César Martínez Herrada was clear about his desire to 'rescue those great men of our culture' in this work. However, Juan Codorniu, the band's guitarist, wanted to point out that 'we made Val del Omar and we talked about Val del Omar; we made Omega and we talked about Lorca; we made El perro Andaluz and we talked about Buñuel. This film talks about us; we stop vindicating all our myths and start to vindicate ourselves'.

Antonio Arias, the band's singer, agreed with him: 'The film is our world, the film is our homes, the film is our rehearsal'. With a humorous tone, he valued how good the music sounded in the film 'even when we made mistakes’, and assured that ‘the journey the film narrates saves us sixty hours of interviews in the future', which is evident due to the full one hundred and ten minutes of film that, according to him, 'is a daring approach to that poetry that they have always admired'.

In a moment of confession on the part of the film's director, he declared that he felt very attached to the Festival, which he considers as 'coming back home', and he feels very grateful to have had the opportunity to follow the band Lagartija Nick for two years. ‘They have made me feel like as part of the band in rehearsals, in the studio, at concerts... and, moreover, they have introduced me to the poetry of Luis Buñuel, his facet as a poet when we all know him as a filmmaker'.
During the discussion at Teatro Echegaray, there was also a moment to remember the 'unknown' Jesús Arias, brother of the band's singer, as a key element of the film, and to acknowledge the important work of the producers.