Cell 211

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Cell 211
File:Celda 211.jpg
Theatrical release poster
SpanishCelda 211
Directed byDaniel Monzón
Screenplay by
Based onCelda 211
by Francisco Pérez Gandul
Produced by
  • Emma Lustres
  • Borja Pena
  • Juan Gordon
  • Álvaro Augustin
Starring
CinematographyCarles Gusi
Edited byMapa Pastor
Music byRoque Baños
Production
companies
Distributed byParamount Pictures (Spain)[1]
La Fabrique de Films (France)[1]
Release dates
  • 4 September 2009 (2009-09-04) (Venice)
  • 6 November 2009 (2009-11-06) (Spain)
Running time
113 minutes
Countries
  • Spain
  • France
LanguagesSpanish
Basque
English

Cell 211 (Spanish: Celda 211) is a 2009 Spanish-French prison film directed by Daniel Monzón, starring Luis Tosar and Alberto Ammann alongside Antonio Resines, Manuel Morón, Carlos Bardem, Fernando Soto, Luis Zahera, Vicente Romero and Marta Etura. It is based on the novel Celda 211 by Francisco Pérez Gandul.[2]

Plot

Juan Oliver wants to make a good impression at his new job as a prison officer and reports to work a day early, leaving his pregnant wife, Elena, at home. During his tour of the prison, an accident occurs that knocks him unconscious. He is rushed to the empty but visibly haunted walls of cell 211. As this diversion unfolds, convicts break free and hijack control of the penitentiary. Aware of the violence that is to come, the prison officers flee, leaving Juan stranded and unconscious in the heart of the riot. When Juan awakens, he immediately takes stock of the situation; in order to survive, he must pretend to be a prisoner.

Juan manages to convince the other prisoners that he is one of them, and that he just entered the prison that very day for homicide. He not only makes himself believed as inmate, but befriends the violent, deep voiced leader of the riot, Malamadre, who takes him under his wing.

Malamadre discovers that Basque terrorists associated with ETA are being held in the same prison, and plans to use them as a bargaining tool. When this hits the news, it triggers a stream of prison riots throughout the country as well as demonstrations in the Basque Country. Juan quickly realizes that he is on his own as the situation becomes more politicized and the government gets involved, afraid of potential ramifications in the Basque community.

Juan's pregnant wife, Elena, slowly learns about his impossible situation and heads for the jail. Once there she is brutally beaten outside the prisons, while trying to get information about her husband. A TV inside the prison cell block reveals the information to the prisoners. Camera footage indicates that Elena was at the riot. Fearful for her safety, Juan insists on learning information regarding her status.

Malamadre demands information of all those injured by the riot. The authorities respond with a short list of only four names. This infuriates the prisoners, who believe that the police are withholding information, and decide to kill one of the ETA prisoners. However, Juan intervenes and suggest they merely cut off an ear, an act he is forced to perform himself.

The authorities then provide additional information on all the injured. Juan learns Elena is in the hospital, though he is told she is recovering. Juan insists on talking to her but is rebuffed. Utrilla, the police guard who hit Elena, is suspended and asked to leave. Meanwhile, Apache, an inmate close to Malamadre, learns the truth behind Juan's status as a guard, having contacted a friend at the police via a secret cell phone. He tells Juan he will give him a chance to defend himself before letting Malamadre know.

Later, Malamadre has Apache tell Juan that he needs to speak to him. Juan is brought to a secluded room, the door closed behind him, and several of Malamadre's men surround him. He asks, nervously, "What faces?" in an effort to defuse the situation given his worry that Apache betrayed his true status. Instead, Malamadre shows Juan a cell phone video from a different camera at the outside riot. The footage shows that Elena was beaten by Utrilla, another prison guard, who then proceeded to leave her on the ground. Juan insists that Utrilla be brought inside.

Inside, Utrilla is faced with the cell phone footage by an infuriated Juan. Juan again insists on talking to Elena, but he instead learns that both she and her unborn child have died. In response, the prisoners viciously beat Utrilla until he loudly insists that Juan is a prison guard. He asks Juan to tell the truth; instead, Juan slits Utrilla's throat and fully joins the prisoners in their fight, having lost all will and reason for life outside. In private Malamadre and his other cohorts are furious but Malamadre leaves him alone, given that he ruthlessly killed Utrilla. Juan proceeds to his cell and attempts to commit suicide by hanging himself with a belt. He fails as the belt breaks under his weight.

Malamadre receives a call from the negotiator asking him to collect a file. They tell him that Juan Oliver is a prison guard and leave the file for Malamadre to see. Malamadre says it is only a piece of paper and heads back inside telling the negotiator that they are just trying to make him kill Juan.

The government sends a messenger to deal directly. The government acquiesces to Malamadre's demands. However, Juan drags Utrilla's corpse in front of the liaison and insists that the government agree in public or they will kill the ETA prisoners. Malamadre is furious at being upstaged though he understands that Juan is correct. Malamadre tells Juan that if the GEO team invades instead of agreeing, then he will either die or kill Juan. In either event, Malamadre insists only one of them will live, as punishment for Juan's betrayal.

The government does not agree to the demands and sends in the GEO team. Apache kills Juan and severely injures Malamadre, and it is unclear if he will become the new prison king or if Malamadre, as soon as he will heal from his injuries, will exact vengeance upon him. At a secret inquiry held by the government, the prison officials regret Juan's death but says they did the best they could in the situation. Finally, the prison official simply asks, "Any more questions?"

Cast

Production

The screenplay was adapted from the homonymous novel [es] by Francisco Pérez Gandul [es] set during a prison riot. The film was produced by Vaca Films, Morena Films and Telecinco Cinema alongside Le Fabrique 2 and TVG.[6] The film was fully shot in Zamora, most notably in the old prison of Zamora, unused since the 1980s and revamped for the occasion.[7]

Reception

Cell 211 has received highly positive reviews from international film critics, earning a 98% "Certified Fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes from 44 reviews.[8]

Accolades

An artistic success, the film won eight Goya Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Luis Tosar) and Best Adapted Screenplay.[9]

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2010 Goya Awards Best Film Won [10]
Best Director Daniel Monzón Won
Best Actor Luis Tosar Won
Best Supporting Actress Marta Etura Won
Best Supporting Actor Carlos Bardem Nominated
Antonio Resines Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Jorge Guerricaechevarría, Daniel Monzón Won
Best New Actor Alberto Ammann Won
Best Original Score Roque Baños Nominated
Best Production Supervision Alicia Tellería Nominated
Best Cinematography Carles Gusi Nominated
Best Editing Mapa Pastor Won
Best Art Direction Antón Laguna Nominated
Best Makeup and Hairstyles Raquel Fidalgo, Inés Rodríguez Nominated
Best Sound Sergio Burmann, Jaime Fernández, Carlos Faruolo Won
Best Special Effects Raúl Romanillos, Guillermo Orbe Nominated
19th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Film Actor in a Leading Role Luis Tosar Won [11][12]
Best Film Actor in a Secondary Role Carlos Bardem Won
Best Film Actress in a Minor Role Marta Etura Nominated
Best Film Actor in a Minor Role Luis Zahera Nominated
Best New Actor Alberto Ammann Won

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Film #33736: Celda 211". Lumiere. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  2. ^ "La verdadera historia de la celda 211". ABC. 21 February 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Pando, Juan (3 November 2010). "Pulso a vida o muerte entre rejas". Metrópoli – via El Mundo.
  4. ^ Champ, Christine (6 October 2010). "SIFF Review: Cell 211 packs a punch". mtv.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Celda 211 (2009)". HobbyConsolas. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Daniel Monzón comienza el rodaje de 'Celda 211' con Luis Tosar y Marta Etura". El Confidencial. 26 August 2008.
  7. ^ Cabrero, José Luis (15 February 2010). "La cárcel zamorana, escenario para ocho Premios Goya". El Mundo.
  8. ^ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cell-211/ Rotten Tomatoes: Cell 211
  9. ^ "Especial Premios Goya 2010". El País (in Spanish).
  10. ^ "Celda 211". premiosgoya.com. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Premios Unión de Actores: Nominados". Fotogramas. 4 February 2010.
  12. ^ "La Unión de Actores premia a los intérpretes de 'Gordos', Celda 211' y 'La Señora'". El Mundo. 30 March 2010.

External links

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