Fear, panic and sympathy are emotions that Rec director Jaume Balagueró puts the spectator through in his new film Mientras duermes (Sleep Tight). We follow the twists and turns of the plot through the eyes of César, a disturbed doorman whose only pleasure in life comes from making others suffer. César knows everyone in the building and controls their every move. He isn’t your run-of-the-mill psycho-killer though; he’s more like a blue-collar villain who happens to vent his frustration on his unsuspecting neighbours. Luis Tosar, Marta Etura and Alberto San Juan breathe life into the characters that Alberto Marini has developed for this story, based on the book of the same name. Luis Tosar … [Read more...] about Balagueró hits top horror form with ‘Mientras duermes’
Spain News
Ahead of election, Spain’s next prime minister leaves everyone guessing
Mariano Rajoy, leader of the opposition Popular Party, is set to put two election defeats behind him on November 20 and become Spain’s next prime minister. But his all-but-guaranteed victory (opinion polls suggest the PP will win around 190 seats in the 350-seat parliament, its largest ever majority) has little to do with him. Instead, it has much more to do with a three-year economic crisis, an intractable unemployment disaster and escalating worries about Spain’s debt and public account deficits – problems, compounded, if not induced in the eyes of many, by the economic mismanagement of the current Socialist administration of Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Those issues, … [Read more...] about Ahead of election, Spain’s next prime minister leaves everyone guessing
Villarreal’s wayward submarine seeks to get back on course
“It looked like Bayern won with something to spare” Juan Carlos Garrido admitted at the end of Villarreal’s 2-0 defeat at home to Bayern Munich a few weeks ago, adding: “but that’s not quite how it was, even so, they are a great team”, almost as a confused afterthought. Bayern’s players seemed surprised, even underwhelmed by the childish ease with which they dispatched a team that has become known around Europe over the last few years for their adventurous, skilful play. Any artistry that Garrido’s Villarreal may have been capable of certainly was not on display in the defensive styling of their football on the night. Set up with three largely static defensive midfielders, they were never … [Read more...] about Villarreal’s wayward submarine seeks to get back on course
Iranian odd couple claimed nuclear program insider knowledge
In early May 2009, an Iranian couple telephoned the US Consulate in Barcelona requesting to go to the United States as refugees because they feared for their lives. The husband and wife told diplomats that because they both worked as doctors, they had extensive knowledge of Iran’s nuclear program but the US officials informed Washington that they doubted their story. This episode is detailed in a May 19, 2009 classified cable written by Todd D. Robinson, the principal officer at the US Consulate, and released by Wikileaks. "The couple, who claim to have information on Iran's terrorist activities, say they've been in Spain since March and believe their lives are threatened by Iran," … [Read more...] about Iranian odd couple claimed nuclear program insider knowledge
Why Spain are still the team to fear
After Spain equalled the record held by Holland and France of 14 consecutive victories in official competition with their comfortable 3-1 win against Scotland on Wednesday, among the many platitudes meted out by players and staff of La Roja was a rather frank appraisal by Santi Cazorla. “The way we are playing at the moment we are favourites to win the European Championship,” the Málaga midfielder said in an unusual instance of a footballer voicing an opinion. It was a far cry from the standard Spanish players’ fare of slightly awkward modesty and explaining to the camera that it’s one game at a time. But Cazorla is quite correct. Spain will be the overwhelming favourite when the … [Read more...] about Why Spain are still the team to fear
A social network headed for global dominance… or buy-out syndrome?
It receives 15 percent of all Spanish internet traffic, has 11.5 million users and its own mobile phone operator and for the last year has been under the ownership of a telecoms giant. Tuenti is the social network of choice for Spain’s teenagers and a major corporate presence that many believe is on the verge of expanding abroad and taking on Facebook in the world market. Tuenti’s figures do indeed make for impressive reading and this, no doubt, was what appealed to Telefonica when the company made its €70-million bid for the social networking site in 2010. Now, a year after the takeover, Tuenti is at a key phase in its development. And as it moves forward in the shadow of one of Europe’s … [Read more...] about A social network headed for global dominance… or buy-out syndrome?
Spanish air firm seeks sanction relief after Syria trade gaffe
Later this month, the US government is expected to review whether it will maintain intact a commercial sanction against a Spanish air company for sending a jet to Syria in violation of a trade embargo. The British-made BAe 146–300 aircraft reportedly is still parked at a Damascus airport despite efforts over the last two years by Spain’s Orion Air S. L. to push Syrian officials to return the jet. The US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued a 180-day sanction, known as a “Temporarily Denying Export Privileges Order” (TDO), against Orion and Syrian Pearl Airlines in 2009. It renewed the TDO last April because the jet has not been returned. A batch of US Embassy … [Read more...] about Spanish air firm seeks sanction relief after Syria trade gaffe
Why open Pandora’s Box?
Reforming the Constitution is a guaranteed way to open up a thousand and one debates about democracy in Spain. The 1978 referendum, in which the current Constitution was approved, was a turning point at a major crossroads in the political life of a country that aspired to be close to Europe, improve the quality of life of its citizens and take on the process of transitioning to democracy under the guidance of a parliamentary monarchy. To think that reforming the Constitution now is the only way to control the deficit is probably a reflection of the need for a renewal of the policies of the political parties, not necessarily generational change. The question is poignant: Is a reform of … [Read more...] about Why open Pandora’s Box?
Spanish air base layoff plan a PR nightmare for Washington
In 2009, US diplomats in Madrid warned Washington that planned civilian defence job cutbacks at US military bases in Morón de la Frontera and Rota could put Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero “in an extremely difficult position” and would become a public relations fiasco for the United States because some politicians would “insist that Zapatero retaliate for the ‘insult.’” The summation made by William H. Duncan, who at the time was the US Embassy’s political counsellor, was part of an effort to get his State Department superiors to convince Pentagon officials not to go ahead with the planned layoffs at these two Spanish air and naval bases. “The principal … [Read more...] about Spanish air base layoff plan a PR nightmare for Washington
Gibson’s undimmed passion for Lorca
I first met Ian Gibson in 2004. While walking through the Madrid barrio of Lavapiés, I had spotted a face that I remembered from the book flap of his biography of Federico García Lorca. Like a weak-kneed groupie, I followed him into a bar and confessed I was a fan of the biography as well as his exploration of the events that led up to Lorca’s death, El asesinato de García Lorca. Gibson, who lived in the area, graciously invited me to sit down and have a drink and I spent 10 hurried minutes with him. Seven years on, I meet Gibson at the same bar (his choice), but this time the interview has been arranged by phone and it coincides with a new edition of his Lorca biography in Spanish, … [Read more...] about Gibson’s undimmed passion for Lorca