As bestas on Rai 4: plot of the film, cast, true story, Spain

THEexpired at a news story which shocked Spain in 2014, on first TV this evening at 9.20pm on Rai 4 goes on air As bestas – The land of discord. Directed by the excellent Spanish director Rodrigo Sorogoyenthe film tells a terrible act of blood happened in the countryside of Galicia. Winner of 9 Goya awardsthe thriller has as its protagonists a French married couple forced to suffer harassment and teasing from two farmers locals. With consequences that will prove tragic.

As bestas – The land of discordthe plot of the film on Rai 4

Antoine (Denis Ménochet) and Olga (Marina Foïs) are a French couple who have settled in a small village in the Galician hinterland. They lead a quiet life, though coexistence with the local population is not idyllic as they would like.

To live, the two they deal with organic farming and restore old houses with the aim of encouraging the repopulation of uninhabited places. The situation worsened when the couple votes against the installation of wind farms in the surrounding area. Thus infuriating their property neighbors, the Anta brothers (Luis Zahera and Diego Anido), anxious instead to have the facilities to get rich.

Antoine and Olga’s outright refusal makes the two men extremely unsympathetic and angry and this generates a growing tension. Destined to explode.

A very tense thriller that reflects on the fear of the foreigner

Spanish filmmaker born in 1981, Rodrigo Sorogoyen is undoubtedly one of the greatest talents of his generation. Thanks to films like The kingdom And Motherpassing through the TV series Anti-disturbancesthe director not only knew how to move with ease between the small and big screen but he demonstrated that knowing how to handle very different genres with mastery. As happens to few of his colleagues, in Europe and beyond.

Successfully presented at Cannes in 2022, As bestas received well 9 well-deserved Goya Awards (the equivalent of Donatello’s Davids). This time Sorogoyen veers towards a thriller without forgetting his constant exploration of the profound contradictions inherent in man. Over two hours long (which goes by quickly), focuses on the dichotomy between reason and instinct and, with sensitivity and harmony, also explores the theme of fear of the different and the foreigner.

Thanks to one building tension always constant, As bestas wisely relies on long sequence shots. It moves to the pace of the campaign which, from a benevolent environment, soon turns into a tragic stage.

The terrible true story behind the film

The subject of the film is inspired by a true story. It all happens in 2010 in Santoallaa hamlet in the municipality of Petín, in Galicia, and has for protagonist the Dutch Martin Albert Verfondarn. Man, for over a decade, he lived in the village with his wife Margothe only inhabitants together with the spouses Manuel Rodríguez and Jovita González, and their two children.

Initially friendly and sharing, the relationship between the two families, who lived on opposite sides of the village, cools due to the Dutchman’s discovery that he owned rights to over 500 hectares of forest around Santoalla. Verfondarn though he refuses the 6000 euros offered by an energy company for the installation of 25 wind turbines in the area. Unleashing theto anger and threats of neighbors who hoped to enrich their agricultural production.

After months of tension, On January 19, 2010 the man disappeared after going to the village in the morning to do the shopping. The Guardia Civil investigates but without finding anything that could incriminate the Rodríguez. Then, in June 2014, Verfondarn’s decomposed remains were found in a forest and the Rodriguezes’ two sons confessed suffered the murder. Today, after the death of Manuel and Jovita and their children in prison, Margo remained the only resident of Santoalla, where she buried her husband’s bones.

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