Director Víctor García León has presented his new film, Altas Capacidades, a dark comedy that explores the contradictions of the contemporary middle class through the everyday situation of choosing a school for a child. The film is competing in the Official Competition alongside 21 other feature films.
 
At a press conference with the lead actors, Marian Álvarez, Israel Elejalde, and Juan Diego Botto, the filmmaker described this Spanish-Uruguayan co-production as a dark comedy about social aspirations, moral principles, and the pressure to guarantee academic success.
 
García León is also the screenwriter, along with Borja Cobeaga, of this project that combines irony, social observation, and a critical look at the contradictions that constantly surround contemporary society. Both have revealed that this story stems from an interest in humorously addressing a phenomenon very familiar to any viewer: parents' anxiety about securing their children's future and the ease with which many families end up justifying decisions that contradict their own principles.
 
"We were interested in talking about that gap that sometimes exists between what we believe and what we do when our personal interests come into play", the director stated.
 
The story delves into the lives of Alicia and Gonzalo, a progressive couple who face a dilemma when the possibility arises of their son Fer attending an exclusive private school after being identified as a gifted child.
What initially seems like an exceptional opportunity gradually transforms into a conflict that tests their values, their ideological convictions, and their very idea of ​​social justice.
 
In this regard, García León emphasised that Altas capacidades uses comedy as a tool to observe deeply ingrained social behaviours, from competitiveness among families to the pressure to offer children the best possible opportunities. Through the story of its protagonists, the film raises questions about meritocracy, classism, and the role of education as a mechanism for social mobility.
 
The script combines humour with a critical perspective on the mechanisms of exclusivity and privilege that are reproduced in certain educational environments. The film thus delves into a world of rivalries between parents, contradictory discourses, and social aspirations that ultimately confront the characters with their own inconsistencies.
 
The cast is led by Marian Álvarez and Israel Elejalde, who play the lead couple, accompanied by Juan Diego Botto, Natalia Reyes, Suso Nanclares, and a special appearance by Pilar Castro. Through their performances, the film constructs a relatable portrait of characters who oscillate between ideological conviction and the desire to offer their children the best possible future.
 
During the press conference, the cast emphasised the film's awkward comedic tone, in which humour serves as a mirror to widely shared social behaviours. Far from offering simple answers, Altas Capacidades invites the viewer to question the extent to which personal principles hold up when faced with opportunities of privilege.
 
The Festival de Málaga has been a key stage in Víctor García León's cinematic career. In 2017, he won the Biznaga de Plata for Best Director and the Critics' Award for Selfie.

The filmmaker has also presented other feature films at the festival such as Vete de mí and Los europeos.