The last week of October, the seats at the Núria Espert theater in Sant Andreu de la Barca remained empty while scenes from a Greek tragedy unfolded on stage. During those days, the theater became a key site for the filming of the film La furia, the debut feature of Catalan director Gemma Blasco. The film, which will be released next year, will bring to the screens a previously unexplored look at sexual violence, from the perspective of a director who does not hesitate to expose her raw and honest vision of the subject.
The film stars Ángela Cervantes (Chavalas) and Álex Monner (The Wild Children) and has the special participation of actress Ana Torrent. Although it is not based on the personal story of its director, Gemma Blasco, it explores a theme that runs through her deeply. “When I was 18 years old, they sexually assaulted me,” explains the filmmaker from the filming set to La Vanguardia. Blasco felt that the topic had not yet been represented from a place that challenged her and she longed to see a film that showed “the fury and rage” that a woman can feel after an attack. That's why she began writing a first version of the script La furia in 2012. This will be the first feature film of her career, after having directed the shorts Matices (2013), Formas de Juego (2015) and Jauría (2018). ).
La Furia delves into the life of Alexandra (Ángela Cervantes), a young woman who attends a New Year's Eve party with her friends and at one point during the night, is the victim of a rape. What follows is a rollercoaster of emotions, and the protagonist embarks on an inner journey to find healing. The theater becomes her refuge, where she plays the character of Medea, a vengeful figure in which she finds a place to pour out her own desires for justice. Meanwhile, her brother Adrián de ella, played by Álex Monner, is torn between anger and guilt for not being able to protect his sister that night.
“I was quite afraid that I wouldn't last,” Cervantes says, agitated between takes. The performer, winner of two consecutive Gaudí awards for best supporting actress, takes on the role of her first protagonist in La furia. “It is very important to take care of yourself mentally and physically before a shoot like this.” Cervantes reveals that throughout the process, both she and her colleagues had the assistance of an acting and intimacy coach for the most intense scenes.
“A story interests me when it has a different point of view,” reveals Ana Torrent, and that is precisely why the interpreter agreed to participate with a special collaboration in this film. Torrent plays Diana, an actress and theater director who will help the protagonist channel her fury. “The script, the story and Gemma as director have a strength that I love. She is bringing out a side of me that I really like.” The actress maintains that the film opens new narrative paths on the subject and praises Ángela Cervantes' interpretation. “Amazing, she is very good in the role.”
The Fury is in its final weeks of filming. The film mainly toured the surroundings of Barcelona and the town of Torrevelilla, in Alcañiz (Teruel). It is a Ringo Media production and has the participation of RTVE, TVC, Aragón TV, Filmin and with financing from the ICAA, the Government of Aragón and the ICEC. It will be distributed nationally by Filmax.
