El reino (2018)

Directed by: Rodrigo Sorogoyen | 132 minutes | drama, thriller | Actors: Antonio de la Torre, Mónica López, Josep Maria Pou, Bárbara Lennie, Nacho Fresneda, Ana Wagener, Luis Zahera, Francisco Reyes, María de Nati, David Lorente, Paco Revilla, Sonia Almarcha, Andrés Lima, Óscar de la Fuente, Laia Manzanares, Malva Vela, Jorge Suquet, Pepe Lorente, Xabier Murua

It seems like a ‘marriage made in heaven’, any collaboration between the up-coming director Rodrigo Sorogoyen and top actor Antonio de la Torre. Both already excelled with the sultry police thriller ‘Que Dios nos perdone’ from 2016 about the hunt for a serial killer, in ‘El reino’ the craftsmanship is rolled out on a political thriller-last. In 2018, this film was the big winner in the Spanish film country: no fewer than 7 Goyas were won, including best director, best screenplay, best soundtrack (pulsating and exciting by Olivier Arson) and best actor.

Story: De la Torre plays a charismatic politician, Manuel López-Vidal, who has climbed the ranks of his party. Which party, left/right/center, remains unclear, but that does not hinder following the story. Manuel has a lot of respect, a loving family and many friends. In addition, it appears that Manuel quickly became involved in corrupt acts within the political world, just like many other politicians in his environment. Abuse of office, embezzlement and the like. We see ‘meetings’ in luxury restaurants, where people indulge in lavish fish dishes, trips on luxury boats and expensive watches being handed out. When the papers get wind of the tax money tampering and Manuel tries to cover up a colleague and friend, he himself becomes the center of attention. He is put forward as a scapegoat by his party members. He has to hang to obscure the attention of all the unsavory political malpractice still playing in the background. Unfortunately, Manuel doesn’t just let himself be victimized. He goes in search of evidence within his own party ranks so that everyone can be pilloried. His immediate superior tells him: “There are bigger things at play than your curiosity.”

In his search for ‘the booklets with the names and the corresponding amounts’ there are victims and he is not sure of his own life. In the end – in a truly magnificent final scene – it comes to a showdown with political reporter Amaia Marin (Bárbara Lennie). A verbal duel on prime time television, in which Manuel is dealt with harshly. Okay, he comes with hard evidence against a lot of politicians, but wasn’t he himself part of this sickening, corrupt system first for fifteen years?

‘El reino’ is a film about corruption in Spanish politics. It is a film that does not explicitly name the parties, because in the end they are all infected. Left or right, everyone shares from the rack. Either you follow suit, or you will be declared redundant. Dirty games, people talking over their mouths, eavesdropping: the whole spectrum comes along.

De la Torre plays his part ‘human’ and completely convincing. Indeed, you would almost forget that he is just as contemptuous as all the other howler monkeys in his immediate vicinity.
It does take a while to get ‘in the swing of things’. ‘El reino’ is not an easy film. It all has a lot of political feet, read: power games, in the earth. Who is who and who is linking to whom?

Rapidly, to the rhythm of the hypnotic soundtrack, Manuel sets out in search of the ‘treasure of evidence’ after his public conviction. Full of bravado and daring, he does everything in his power to save his head from the guillotine. But will he eventually succeed? As the subtitle of ‘El reino’ states: “Kings fall, but kingdoms survive.” The Spanish political arena, a separate ‘kingdom’, this film makes no mistake about that…