Loreak, released in the US as Flowers,[1] is a 2014 Basque-language Spanish drama film directed by Jon Garaño and Jose Mari Goenaga.
Loreak | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Loreak (Flowers) | |
Directed by | Jon Garaño Jose Mari Goenaga |
Written by | Jon Garaño Aitor Arregi Jose Mari Goenaga |
Produced by | Xabier Berzosa |
Starring | Nagore Aranburu Itziar Ituño Itziar Aizpuru Josean Bengoetxea Ane Gabarain |
Cinematography | Javi Agirre Erauso |
Edited by | Raúl López |
Music by | Pascal Gaigne |
Production companies | Irusoin Moriarti Produkzioak EITB TVE |
Distributed by | A Contracorrientefilms (Spain) Music Box Films (United States) Film Factory Entertainment (International) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
Country | Spain |
Language | Basque |
It premiered in the Official Section of the 2014 San Sebastián International Film Festival, and was also screened at the 2014 BFI London Film Festival, the 2014 Zurich Film Festival, the 2014 Tokyo International Film Festival and the 2015 Palm Springs International Film Festival.[2][3][4]
It became the first Basque language film nominated for the Goya Award for Best Film.[5] It was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards, being the first Basque language film to do it, but it was not nominated.[6][7]
Ane (played by Nagore Aranburu) is a woman in her early forties who does not feel fulfilled. Her life changes when she starts to receive bouquets of flowers at home anonymously, once a week. The lives of Lourdes (Itziar Ituño) and Tere (Itziar Aizpuru) are also altered by some mysterious flowers. A stranger leaves flowers every week in memory of someone who was important for them.
Loreak was met with positive reviews by critics. Jonathan Holland of The Hollywood Reporter praised it for being "as beguiling and beautifully structured as the flowers of its title" and said it "absolutely deserves wider exposure".[8] Jay Weissberg of Variety called the film "beautifully cast" and "an affecting story of loss and the ways people cope".[9] Lluís Bonet Mojica of La Vanguardia, who gave Loreak a five-star review, noted that it is a "film where nothing happens and everything happens". Oti Rodríguez Marchante of ABC described the film as a "moving and delicate melodrama". On the mixed side, Andrea G. Bermejo of Cinemanía gave Loreak 3.5 stars out of five and observed that "by means of so much perfection [...] the result loses some spontaneity, some audacity, and perhaps, some weight".[10]
Awards | Category | Nominated | Result |
---|---|---|---|
62nd San Sebastián International Film Festival | Golden Shell for Best Film | Nominated | |
SIGNIS Award, Special Mention[11] | Won | ||
2015 Palm Springs International Film Festival[12] | Cine Latino Award | Won | |
Premis Sant Jordi de Cinematografia 2015[13] | Best Spanish Film | Won | |
II Premios Feroz[14] | Best Drama | Nominated | |
Best Director | Jon Garaño and Jose Mari Goenaga | Nominated | |
Best Screenplay | Jon Garaño, Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga | Nominated | |
Best Supporting Actress | Itziar Aizpuru | Won | |
Best Original Soundtrack | Pascal Gaigne | Nominated | |
Best Film Poster | Nominated | ||
29th Goya Awards[15] | Best Film | Nominated | |
Best Original Score | Pascal Gaigne | Nominated | |