Spanish cinema We are already used to competing directly, at the production level, with some of the best international industries. Fatherhood is something common among the majority thanks to filmmakers of the stature of Carla Simon, Juan Antonio Bayona, Rodrigo Sorogoyen either Pilar Palomero. However, a few years ago there was a film that exceeded all expectations of the Spanish-speaking audience. A prison film viewable on Amazon Prime completely free. We talk of course Cell 211. The winner of eight Goya awards produced between the Madrid label Morena Films and the Galician production company Vaca Films.
Today it is not strange to see film stories and television programs produced by Galician companies. There is Bambú Producciones or all these fictions which make the community known. However, in 2009, it was very strange and completely innovative to entrust an audiovisual company like Vaca Films with responsibility for a project of the scale of this national cinematic phenomenon. Directed by Daniel Monzonthe Majorcan director has signed his best work to date with a drama full of tension and sometimes completely claustrophobic. Until then, Monzón had stood out thanks to his first film The Warrior’s Heartnominated for Best New Director at the Goya Awards in 2000. After this fantastic story, his cinema experienced exponential growth with The biggest theft ever told And The Kovak boxbut not with Cell 2011 He made a name for himself at the Spanish Cinema Academy.
Among its awards, the awards for best film and best director went to Monzón, who has so far failed to reproduce the narrative level of this story of freedom and violence. The first of them was The child and after that he experienced a substantial change of record with the black comedy Yucatan. In 2021, he released the highly praised Border lawswith which he won five Goya awards. But none, none of them let escape the public who realized what for many is one of the the best spanish films of the history of our cinema. Being in the same way, a success for the theaters by collecting almost 9 million euros in Spanish cinemas.
What is “Cell 211” about?
The official synopsis of Cell 211 is as follows: “The day Juan (Alberto Ammann) begins his new job as prison guard, he is caught up in a prison riot. He then decides to pass himself off as a prisoner to save his life and put an end to the revolt led by the formidable Malamadre. What he doesn’t know is that fate has prepared a trap for him.
Beyond the quick screenplay that Monzón and Jorge Guerricaechevarría adapted from the novel of the same name by Francisco Pérez Gandulthe main attraction of Cell 211 This is the spectacular cast led by Alberto Amann and Luis Tosar. A cast that includes names such as Antonio Resines, Carlos Bardem, Marta Etura, Vicente Romero, Manuel Morón, Manolo Solo, Fernando Soto and a certain artist who at the time was not very well known: Luis Zahera. Even though, no matter how well the entire cast performs, none of them can eclipse the character of Malamadre built by Tosar.
The fantastic role of Luis Tosar
With 10 Goya nominations, highlighting just one role in Luis Tosar’s career could be considered imprudent. But, no matter how much he has dazzled us over the years with his characters, none of them match the energy and vivacity that the Galician as Malamadre exudes. The character of the dangerous prisoner gave the native of Lugo his third Goya interpreter, after having won it in 2003 with Mondays in the sun And I give you my eyes. If we had to make a ranking of the most emblematic villains of Spanish cinema, it would be impossible leave out the co-star and temporary ally of the undercover jailer.
Malamadre is the heart of Cell 211 as Darth Vader is it from Star Wars or Vito Corleone it’s from The godfather. His presence is absolute and in each shot, he offers the crazy certainty that no bar can bend him.
Is it only free on Amazon Prime?
Fortunately for lovers of seventh national art, Cell 211 It is not only available for free on Amazon Prime. but we also have it available in the catalogs of Netflix, SkyShowtime and Movistar +. A versatility that, with a duration of just over an hour and a half, makes it one of the best options for an afternoon of cinema at home.
