It’s the ‘Awards Season’ and yesterday it was the turn of Spain with the XXII edition of the ‘Goyas’, the Spanish domestic equivalent of the Oscars. The surprise winner of Best Film and Best Direction was ‘La Soledad’ (Solitude).
La Soledad, directed by Barcelona’s Jaime Rosales, tells the story of a divorced woman, played by Sonia Almarcha, and a widow, played by Petra Martinez, who join forces to care for and bring up their children. The pre-awards favourite in the Best Film category had been the more famous film ‘La Orfanato’ (The Orphanage).
La Orfanato did, however, pick up awards in seven of the fourteen categories in which it was nominated. The film ‘Las Trece Rosas’ (Thirteen Roses) came away with four awards, having been nominated in eleven categories.
The award for best foreign film in the Spanish language went to Argentina’s ‘ XXY’, the story of a 15 year old feminine pseudo-hermaphrodite (someone born with both male and female genitals).
The Best Actor award went to Alberto San Juan (Bajo Las Estrellas) and the Best Actress award to Maribel Verdu (Siete Mesas de Billar Francés).