The Belly of the Sea

The Belly of the Sea (Catalan: El ventre del mar) is a 2021 Spanish drama film directed and written by Agustí Villaronga, based on the novel Ocean Sea by Italian writer Alessandro Baricco. It was shot in black and white and stars Roger Casamajor and Òscar Kapoya.

The Belly of the Sea
CatalanEl ventre del mar
Directed byAgustí Villaronga
Written byAgustí Villaronga
Based onOcean Sea
by Alessandro Baricco
Produced byCesc Mulet
Javier Pérez Santana
StarringRoger Casamajor
Òscar Kapoya
CinematographyBlai Tomàs
Josep María Civit
Edited byBernat Aragonés
Production
companies
Testamento P.C.T.
La Perifèrica Produccions
Productions Link-Up
Turkana Films
Bastera Films
Release date
2021
Running time
76 minutes
CountrySpain
LanguageCatalan

Plot

In June, 1816, the French frigate Alliance runs aground off the coast of Senegal. Without enough boats for everyone, a raft is built to tow 147 men to shore. But panic and confusion seize the convoy and cut the tow rope, abandoning the raft to its fate. Hunger, madness and a fierce fight break out on that drifting raft. Savigny, a ruthless medical officer, and Thomas, a rebellious private sailor, face each other with a different attitude to survive. A horror that lasted for days and days. A scene where the greatest of cruelties and the sweetest of pieties were shown.

Cast
  • Roger Casamajor as Savigny
  • Òscar Kapoya as Thomas
  • Muminu Diayo as Thèrese
  • Marc Bonnín as Markus

Release

The film screened at the Málaga Film Festival of 2021, where it won six awards including the Biznaga de Oro for Best Film.[1]

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 60% based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 5.80.[2] Javier Ocaña from El País commented "it's not an easy film, although it is a relevant study on cowardice and ineptitude, abandonment and forgetfulness, which unfortunately extends through the ages".[3] Writing for Fotogramas, Beatriz Martínez rated the film four out of five stars, writing that "perhaps, the most surprising thing is how, with a very low budget, Villaronga has managed to create a ´work of art".[4]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2021 Málaga Film Festival Best Film The Belly of the Sea Won [1]
Best Direction Agustí Villaronga Won
Best Screenplay Won
Best Male Performance Roger Casamajor Won
Best Score Marcús J.G.R. Won
Best Cinematography Josep María Civit and Blai Tòmas Won

See also

References
  1. Martínez, Luis (June 14, 2021). "'El vientre del mar' arrasa con 6 premios en el Festival de cine de Málaga". El Mundo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  2. "The Belly of the Sea (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  3. Ocaña, Javier (November 12, 2021). "'El vientre del mar': de un naufragio del siglo XIX a los cayucos de la inmigración actual". El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  4. Martínez, Beatriz (November 10, 2021). "CRÍTICA DE 'EL VIENTRE DEL MAR'". Fotogramas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
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