In the City

Colour, 35 mm
Spain, 2003, 110 min
Section: Catalan Films

Synopsis

The city is Barcelona, but it could be Boston or Baghdad... For in every city one finds groups of friends who have woven unique tapestries of relations, warm enough to give comfort in times of need, strong enough to withstand envy and jealousy. Irene and Manu seem to be happy in their marriage, Mario is still madly in love with his energetic wife Sara, her best friend Sofia lives in a fairly unreal world with her two dogs... Eight men and women in their thirties, leading unspectacular, normal lives. They meet in restaurants, bars and bedrooms; some are married to one another, others related. But how well do they know each other? Do they really tell each other everything? In the City paints an intimate portrait of people who are close to one another yet cannot confide their innermost feelings.

About the director

Cesc Gay (b. 1967, Barcelona) worked with EMAV (Escola Mitjans Audiovisuals, Barcelona) in 1987-90. He created short films, documentaries and multimedia performances before turning to features in 1998 with Hotel Room (co-director, screenwriter; 1999 Jury Prize at Muestra de Cine del Atlántico in Cadiz). He has also made Nico and Dani (Krámpack, 2000, director, co-screenwriter; 2000 Prix Jeunesse at Cannes, 2000 Best Director at Malaga, 2000 First Golden Tesafilm Award at Hamburg, 2000 FIPRESCI Prize at Chicago, 2000 Silver Columbus at Bogotá, 2000 Best Debut at Mostra Valencia, 2000 Best Catalonian Film at La Butaca, among others) and In the City (En la ciudad, 2003, director, co-screenwriter).
The director said about his film: ‘In the City began at a meal with friends. I don’t remember what we were celebrating. I only remember that suddenly a friend of mine started crying for no apparent reason. We all looked at her, not knowing what to do, while she cried and laughed, trying to ease the situation. She was surprised at herself for making such a scene. She finally got up, went to the bathroom, I suppose, and came back soon afterward, much calmer and putting what happened behind her.’