| The Sandman | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Spanish | El hombre de arena |
| Directed by | José Manuel González-Berbel |
| Screenplay by | José Manuel González-Berbel |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Antonio González Méndez |
| Music by | Cristina Pato |
| Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing de España |
| Release date |
|
| Country | Spain |
| Language | Spanish |
The Sandman (Spanish: El hombre de arena) is a 2007 Spanish romantic drama film directed by José Manuel González-Berbel (in his directorial debut feature) which stars Hugo Silva and María Valverde. The plot is set in a Francoist psychiatric hospital.
Plot
After being interned into a psychiatric ward in Extremadura in the late 1960s, free-spirit Mateo changes the lives of the inmates in the asylum, including Lola's.
Cast
- Hugo Silva as Mateo
- María Valverde as Lola
- Irene Visedo as Carmen
- Mercedes Sampietro as Carmen mayor
- Ana Torrent as María la Cigarrona
- Alberto Jiménez as Burgos
- Samuel Le Bihan as El francés
- Héctor Noas [es] as Luis
- Miguel de Lira [es] as Joao
- Ana Ruiz [es] as Silvia
- Gabrielle Lazure as Gabrielle
- Silvia Marty as Emilia
Production
The film was produced by Iroko Films, Adivina Producciones, and Las siete sillas. Shooting locations included Salvaleón, Mérida, Badajoz, and Barcarrota.
Release
The film screened at the 1st Tangier-Málaga Spanish Film Festival. Distributed by Sony Pictures, it was released theatrically in Spain on 9 November 2007.
Reception
Javier Cortijo of ABC assessed that the love story side of the film is weighed down by the actors, whilst supporting cast members (Jiménez and Visedo, together with Torrent's brief appearance) manage to uplift the whole to a certain extent.
Alberto Luchini of El Mundo considered that, well-achieved atmosphere notwithstanding, the screenplay is a mess, with "what was supposed to be moving ends up provoking indifference".
See also
References
- "The Sandman / El hombre de arena". sansebastianfestival.com. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- "Hugo Silva, víctima de la ley de vagos y maleantes en "El hombre de arena"". Levante-EMV. Prensa Ibérica. 3 November 2007.
- Maldivia, Beatriz (10 September 2007). "Póster y fotos de 'El hombre de arena', con Hugo Silva y María Valverde". Espinof.
- "'El hombre de arena', una historia de amor dentro de un psiquiátrico franquista". El Mundo. 5 November 2007.
- "Hugo Silva y María Valverde en 'El hombre de arena'". Europa Press. 12 November 2007.
- ^ "El hombre de arena" (PDF). ICAA. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- "Una historia de amor en un centro mental extremeño llega a los cines". El Periódico Extremadura. Prensa Ibérica. 6 November 2007.
- Soriano, Juan (9 November 2007). "Mérida evoca a Hollywood en el estreno de 'El hombre de arena'". Hoy. Grupo Vocento.
- Requena, Esther (4 November 2007). "'El hombre de arena' recuerda en el Festival de Tánger las injusticias de la Ley de Maleantes". Diario Sur. Grupo Vocento.
- "Catálogo de ventas en Cannes". Variety. 5 May 2007.
- "El hombre de arena". Fotogramas. 29 May 2008.
- Cortijo, Javier (9 November 2007). "El loco que las vuelve locas". ABC.
- A.L (14 November 2007). "Riesgo sin premio". Metrópoli – via El Mundo.
External links
- The Sandman at ICAA's Catálogo de Cinespañol