The Plan () is a 2019 Spanish black comedy film directed by Polo Menárguez based on the play by Ignasi Vidal starring Antonio de la Torre, Raúl Arévalo, and Chema del Barco. It deals with themes such as failure, miscommunication, and toxic masculinity.
Plot In a hot Summer morning in Usera, three buddies and unemployed security guards (Paco, Ramón, and Andrade) arrange a meeting at the house of one of them to carry out a plan for a mysterious activity, but circumstances delay their departure from the apartment.
Cast Antonio de la Torre as Paco Chema del Barco as Ramón Raúl Arévalo as Andrade
Production The film is a Capitán Araña (Nacho La Casa) production. Based on the play by Ignasi Vidal, the film sees the return of one of the play's stage actors, Chema del Barco. Shooting started in February 2019 in Madrid. The film was lensed by Alejandro Espadero using a Panasonic Varicam.
Release The Plan premiered on 22 October 2019 at the 64th Valladolid International Film Festival. It also screened at the 16th Seville European Film Festival on 12 November 2019. Distributed by Filmax, it was released theatrically in Spain on 21 February 2020.
Reception of Fotogramas rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, highlighting the performance of the lead trio as the best thing about the film.
Javier Ocaña of El País deemed the film to be a "pitch-black comedy with social undertones and deep-rooted themes" and "a journey into the social and mental abyss of three ordinary men".
Sergio F. Pinilla of Cinemanía rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, declaring it "hilarious, tremendous and topical".
Accolades
| rowspan = "4" | | rowspan = "2" | 8th Feroz Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Film | Chema del Barco | | rowspan = "2" | |- | colspan = "2" | Special Award || |- | rowspan = "2" | 35th Goya Awards | Best New Actor || Chema del Barco || || rowspan = "2" | |- | Best Sound || Mar González, Francesco Lucarelli, Nacho Royo-Villanova ||
See also List of Spanish films of 2020
References