Lynn Belvedere

PRISON 77 (MODELO 77) – SPECIAL PRESENTATION @ 2023 SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL

 

 

 

Based on a true story, the year is February 1976 and there is NO democracy in Spain. An accountant is framed and without bail, is sent on remand to await his embezzlement trial, to PRISON 77 in Barcelona, Spain. Very entertaining prison drama, covering the years after Spain returned to democracy, with all the convicts constantly fighting for amnesty.

During the course of several years, two very different convicts form a friendship whilst they share a four person prison cell, and finally they plan for everyone to escape. Deliciously reminded of Steven King’s fictional storyline in the 1994 movie “The Shawshank Redemption”. This is one of the Brutal Prisoner Stories, from Franco’s Notorious Torture Prison.

Expect drug-related violent murders, running the gauntlet of police batons – corporal punishment, stealing from other prisoners, prison fires, prison riots, plus prisoners climbing onto the rooftop and attacking the riot police.

There are many places in this world in 2023, where there remains the constant need to exercise a high degree of caution, where you should never ever be arrested by the police. Mumbai, Indonesia, North Korea, China, Russia, etc. Prisons in Spain in 1976 were just as dangerous. The Barcelona Prison finally closed in 2017, making it available as the perfect filming location.

Spain held a change to democracy referendum about political reform on Wednesday 15th December 1976, to gauge support for either the ratification or repealing of the Political Reform Act which had been approved by the Cortes Españolas on 18th November 1976.

2023 HSBC Spanish Film Festival, presented by Palace Cinemas in Sydney from 20th June 2023 until 12th July 2023, which of course will be showing in cinemas all around Australia from 14th June 2023 until 12th July 2023.

PRISON 77 (MODELO 77) is the critically acclaimed Spanish box office hit thriller, from director Alberto Rodríguez, and won five Goya Awards. PRISON 77 (MODELO 77) is one of two 2023 Special Presentations, screening during the 2023 SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL at Palace Cinemas. Highly Recommended.
 

STARRING – Miguel Herrán, Javier Gutiérrez, Jesús Carroza

WRITERS – Rafael Cobos, Alberto Rodríguez

DIRECTOR – Alberto Rodríguez

LANGUAGES – Spanish AND with English subtitles.

AUSTRALIAN CLASSIFICATION – CTC but probably rated M (Mature Themes – THRILLER).

RUNNING TIME of 125 minutes.

FILMING LOCATION – “La Preso Model (La Model Prison), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain”

SYDNEY-TICKETS – https://www.spanishfilmfestival.com/sessions/sydney

SYDNEY-VENUES – https://www.spanishfilmfestival.com/venues/sydney

FESTIVAL – https://www.spanishfilmfestival.com/welcome

FILMS – https://www.spanishfilmfestival.com/films

FAQ – https://www.spanishfilmfestival.com/films/prison-77

DIGITAL-PROGRAMME – https://www.spanishfilmfestival.com/download-programme

VIDEO – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50v9VDoNfKg&

MUBI – https://mubi.com/films/prison-77

 







 

 

 

 

WELCOME – Hola!

Welcome to the 2023 HSBC Spanish Film Festival, presented by Palace Cinemas in Sydney from 20th June 2023 until 12th July 2023, which of course will be showing in cinemas all around Australia from 14th June 2023 until 12th July 2023. Celebrating the 25th anniversary this year, Palace Cinemas are fortunate to be able to share the rich culture and heritage of Spanish and Latin American communities. Special Events including Opening and Closing Nights, a Mexican Fiesta and Argentinian Night.

The 2023 HSBC Spanish Film Festival presented by Palace Cinemas returns this year, with a curated selection of 32 cinema movie films, offering movie film lovers a cinematic journey across Spain and Latin America. Celebrating 25 years, this edition of the Festival screens nationally in Australia from 14th June 2023 and features two key programme strands: New Spanish Cinema and Cine Latino.

2023 lineup will feature a fully curated selection of dramas and box-office hit comedies including the Opening Night Australian première of delicious Spanish box office hit TWO MANY CHEFS. Festival Centrepiece ALCARRÀS has been a critical and audience success in Spain, taking home the coveted Golden Bear at 72nd Berlinale in February 2022 for Best Film (Berlin International Film Festival) and our two Special Presentations are also critically acclaimed. From Spain is box office hit thriller PRISON 77 and from Colombia, Laura Mora Ortega’s award-winning drama THE KINGS OF THE WORLD.

Highlights include a focus on Women in Filmmaking, featuring the work of seven prominent Spanish and Latin American female directors, a comprehensive Carlos Saura retrospective, a Uruguayan documentary with an Australian connection.

2023 Festival Retrospective Lord of Dance: A Focus on Carlos Saura showcases a selection of works from the legendary Spanish filmmaker who passed away earlier this year. Do not miss the special events including Argentinian and Mexican Nights, plus Closing Night, which will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Carlos Saura’s multi-award winner CARMEN.

 

 

 

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -