
From the director of last year’s hit, The Beasts, this is a gripping political thriller about a rising regional politician (played with hardbitten angst by Antonio del la Torre) who comes to the unpleasant realization that he’s being hung out to dry by his universally corrupt colleagues. Manuel may be every bit as guilty as the rest of them, but he doesn’t see why he should take the fall — and sets about securing evidence to bring the whole house down.
Nominated for 13 Goya Awards in 2019, it won seven, including Best Director, Original Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor (Luis Zahera).
Though it’s as Spanish as chorizo, El Reino’s concerns, at a time of great political distrust, are universal. The Candidate is a fine example of concerned, contemporary cinema that also happens to be a lot of fun to watch; it deserves to be seen by as many people as possible.
Jonathan Holland, Hollywood Reporter
When it comes to generating tension, Rodrigo Sorogoyen and his co-writer Isabel Peña – collaborating here for the third time and with a fourth feature, Madre, in the works – start from a place where the screw is already turned and, just when you think they can’t get it any tighter, find new ways to increase the tension – matching their torque with action.
Amber Wilkinson, Eye for Film








Book Tickets
Saturday January 06, 8:10 pm, VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre Book Now
Sunday January 07, 5:40 pm, VIFF Centre - Vancity Theatre Book Now
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