Filmmaker Rodrigo Sorogoyen has revealed that actor Javier Bardem signed on to his upcoming movie after hearing just one brief description of the project. The director shared the anecdote in an interview with Spanish outlet Espinof.
According to Sorogoyen, he and his collaborators pitched the film to Bardem with a single line: "Father and daughter, abandonment, the world of cinema." That was enough to spark the actor's interest, Espinof reports. The film is titled El Ser Querido.
The movie has drawn attention from Spanish critics ahead of its release. El País reviewed the work as showing undeniable expressive talent but lacking emotional depth. El Confidencial framed the story around the theme of killing the father figure, while elDiario.es praised the performances of Bardem and co-star Vicky Luengo, calling them extraordinary and suggesting the film marks a mature stage in Sorogoyen's career.
In a separate interview covered by La Rioja, Luengo spoke about the film's themes and expressed hope that damage regarding the Western Sahara would be repaired. The context of that remark was not detailed in the available material.
Sorogoyen is known in Spanish cinema for his tense, character-driven dramas. El Ser Querido appears to continue that pattern, centering on a strained parent-child relationship set against the backdrop of the film industry.
The film's release date was not specified in the reporting. For those following Spanish-language cinema, this project pairs one of Spain's most acclaimed directors with one of its most recognized international stars, making it a title worth tracking as more details emerge.
