La Parra

Damián subsists on his meagre income, existing more than living. When he receives news that his father has died, he returns to Ferrol, his hometown, which he has stayed away from for over two decades. No sooner has he arrived than he finds himself the subject of mistaken identity and his fate is now entwined with another whose destiny is predetermined.

In La Parra, Alberto Gracia (The Fifth Gospel of Kaspar Hauser, FIPRESCI Prize winner IFFR 2013) constructs a portrait of the Galician coastal town. Ferrol, once the proud home to the country’s maritime industry, now languishes in obscurity, its populace ageing or without work, with little hope for the future. Damián’s dilemma reflects the mood of the town, as both are enveloped by a sense of hopelessness. But Gracia’s film eschews despair, instead presenting a surreal and compassionate portrait of a community that despite its misery hasn’t given up on searching for a better future. With its striking combination of sounds and music, and an evocative use of archive footage, La Parra is a further exemplar of Gracia’s unique approach to form and distinct cinematic voice.

– Vanja Kaludjercic