Creatura is a 2023 Spanish drama film in the Catalan language, directed and co-written by Elena Martín Gimeno, who also plays the leading role of Mila.
Plot Upon moving in to a family summer house on the coastline of Maresme with her boyfriend, Marcel, Mila wrestles with sexual trauma, with flashbacks to her earliest moments of sexual awareness (at 5 years old) and her teenage years (15 years old).
Cast
Production The film was produced by Vilaüt Films, Lastor Media, Avalon PC, and Elastica Films. It was produced in association with Suris/Bishop Film, and it had the participation of TV3 and Filmin and backing from ICAA, ICEC and Creative Media Europe. It was shot in Catalan. Shooting locations in Catalonia included Sant Vicenç de Montalt, L'Escala, Blanes, Barcelona, and Sitges.
Release The film world premiered in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 76th Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2023. Distributed by Avalon, it was released theatrically in Spain on 8 September 2023.
Reception The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 93% based on 14 reviews from critics.
Nikki Baughan of ScreenDaily considered that the film, an exploration of the "close relationship between guilt, shame and desire" should "attract attention for its female-centric story and strong visual identity".
Dustin Chang of ScreenAnarchy deemed Creatura to be "an interesting film about how the female sexuality frightens men".
Carlota Moseguí of Cinemanía rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, underscoring it to be "a strong claim on the exposure of female desire" in the verdict.
Top ten lists The film appeared on a number of critics' top ten lists of the best Spanish films of 2023:
Accolades Award Date Category Recipient Result Cannes Film Festival 27 May 2023 Europa Cinemas Label Prize for Best European Film (Directors' Fortnight) Elena Martín San Sebastián International Film Festival 30 September 2023 Dunia Ayaso Award Creatura Brussels Mediterranean Film Festival 8 December 2023 Prix Les Grenades Creatura Prix de la critique UPCB-UCC Feroz Awards 26 January 2024 Best Director Elena Martín Gimeno Best Screenplay Elena Martín Gimeno, Clara Roquet Best Supporting Actor Oriol Pla Gaudí Awards 4 February 2024 Best Film Creatura Best Director Elena Martín Best Original Screenplay Elena Martín, Clara Roquet Best Actor Oriol Pla Best Supporting Actress Clara Segura Best Supporting Actor Àlex Brendemühl Best New Performance Clàudia Malagelada Best Cinematography Alana Mejía González Best Editing Ariadna Ribas Best Original Score Clara Aguilar Best Art Direction Sylvia Steinbrecht Best Production Supervision Andrés Mellinas Best Sound Leo Dolgan, Oriol Donat, Laia Casanovas Best Visual Effects Cristina Garmón Best Makeup and Hairstyles Danae Gatell, Àlex Salvat Goya Awards 10 February 2024 Best Director Elena Martín Best Supporting Actress Clara Segura Best Supporting Actor Alex Brendemühl Best New Actress Clàudia Malagelada Actors and Actresses Union Awards 12 March 2024 Best Film Actor in a Secondary Role Àlex Brendemühl
See also List of Spanish films of 2023
References
External links