Gonzalo Tamayo, raised like so many Spaniards as a Catholic, wants to turn his back on that faith. But it turns out not to be easy to get an official apostasy – to get struck off their list by the church and his baptism declared void. Gonzalo, the eternal student type, finally gets his teeth into it. He feels he has reached a turning point: if he doesn’t make a new start now, maybe he never will. But the past continues to force itself on him, in increasingly realistic fantasies.
Federico Veiroj (A Useful Life, 2010) based the clever screenplay for The Apostate on the experiences of his friend Álvaro Ogalla, who also plays the leading role. Despite Gonzalo’s problems, the film has a light-hearted and optimistic note. And despite the recurring and undoubtedly justified accusations from his surroundings that he is a selfish drip, you can only wish Gonzalo all the best when push comes to shove. A self-assured, funny and dark fairy tale about the will to change.
Film details
- Countries of production
- France, Spain, Uruguay
- Year
- 2015
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2016
- Length
- 80'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
