“La Plaga” directed by Neus Ballús

If it happens that the tickets for a film from the Competition section which you really wanted to see, are sold out right before you, just buy a ticket for a movie from the Forum section and you won’t regret it.

In the Forum section young, independent and promising filmmakers show their films, which are very often even more inspiring, personal and touching than the ones from the already established directors. What is more, here you have bigger chances for making your personal discoveries of the festival – a new exciting movie or a director. And isn’t this what festivals are really for? To open your eyes for something new.

To describe it as inspiring, personal and touching would be absolutely valid for the Spanish film “La Plaga” directed by Neus Ballús, which I went out to see yesterday. But what makes it so interesting and special?

  • This is the first full-length feature film of the young director Neus Ballús who graduated in editing and filmmaking at Barcelona’s Pompeu Fabra University in 1999 and has since made a number of short film documentaries;
  • “La Plaga” is on the thin line between fiction and documentary since none of the protagonists are professionals actors but they play themselves;
  • the director has spent the last 4 years working closely with each and every one of the protagonists so that they could feel comfortable in front of the camera and tell their personal stories;
  • “La Plaga” is shot in the outskirts of Barcelona, where the director grew up and therefore, knows every inch of it;
  • The absolute lovable 80 years-old Maria Ros with her amazing will to live and take care of her field, who will touch your heart and most certainly will make you laugh … and cry;

After the screening, there was a little Q&A session with the team of the movie, where the director Neus Ballús explained that right now, in the middle of the economic crisis, people in Spain are feeling just as confused as the protagonists in the movie. Just like them they are waiting for the rain, for some kind of rain to come and finally wash this “plague” away.

“La Plaga” is a slow, gentle, and personal movie made through the loving eyes of somebody who is showing you her home. I would recommend a watch, if you have a chance. In the meantime, I will be updating the blog with more reports from this year’s 63. Berlinale. So stay tuned!

Here is a link to the trailer:

http://vimeo.com/51745928