Santi Amodeo's 'El cielo de los animales', competing in the Official Section at the Festival de Málaga
The film, inspired by the stories of David James Poissant, was shot in analogue and explores loss
This Thursday 20th March, the Festival de Málaga hosted the presentation of 'El cielo de los animales', the new feature film by Santi Amodeo based on the work by the American writer David James Poissant. The film, starring Raúl Arévalo, Manolo Solo, Jesús Carroza, Paula Díaz, África de la Cruz and Claudio Portalo, weaves together four stories about loss and death.
Amodeo confessed that until the press pointed it out to him, he had not realised that his latest films all revolve around death. "I hadn’t thought about it, but now I understand why I write about it. I'm in a very happy time of my life and maybe that's why, because I have the strength to write about something like this", explained the director.
Shot in 16 mm, the aesthetic tone of 'El cielo de los animales' strengthens its narrative tone. "What we are seeing is not actually happening. They are metaphorical stories that I wanted to present in a story format. We used slides, ektachrome, a photography technique that very few cinematographers dare to use, but which I considered necessary for the atmosphere of the film. I didn't want something realistic,” explained Amodeo.
The use of celluloid was a challenge for both the technical team and the actors. "Unlike digital, where you have more attempts, this way there are more rehearsals and fewer shots. When you go out, you give it your all,” said Claudio Portalo, for who this is his film debut.
The director agreed with this assessment, recalling the experience of Raúl Arévalo and Manolo Solo in the filming: "They said it was like going back to the old days, where you just shot three takes and that was it”.
Africa de la Cruz also highlighted the magic of shooting in analogue: "It's much closer to theatre. The concentration that not only the actor but the whole team has to have is different. It creates a special magic that is experienced in a different way in digital”.
On the cast, Amodeo praised his actors, highlighting the energy of Claudio Portalo and the growth of África de la Cruz and Paula Díaz, whom he directed in his previous film. "I have nothing more to say about them because I have already said it all. They starred in my previous film and they are also very good here; they make a huge leap," he said.
Paula Díaz shared her experience of the rehearsal process: "I struggled at the beginning and Santi guided us. We were discovering the code. There is no clear narrative line, everything is fragmented and this is also reflected in the characters”.
With 'El cielo de los animales', Santi Amodeo once again demonstrates his ability to construct stories that explore the depths of human nature.
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