A deeply atmospheric Spanish Southern Gothic, Marshland is more of a drama than a crime thriller. There’s little sense of suspense – more a case of steady discovery by the two city detectives sent to the remote repressed southern marshland town of Villafranco del Guadalquivir to investigate the disappearance of two teenage sisters.
But with its stunning cinematography and muted tones, the film, helmed by Alberto Rodriguez, effectively claustrophobic, set as it is in 1980 and the civil unrest and uncertainty following Franco’s death. Winner of 10 Goya Awards, including best film.
Rating: 72%
Director: Alberto Rodríguez (7 Virgins, Unit 7)
Writer: Alberto Rodríguez (7 Virgins, Unit 7), Rafael Cobos (7 Virgins, Unit 7)
Main cast: Javier Gutiérrez (A Night in Old Mexico, People in Places), Raúl Arévalo (People in Places, I’m So Excited), Antonio de la Torre (Volver, I’m So Excited), Nerea Barros (The Value of Time, TV’s Matalobos)
An Opinion or Two 