Wood dries into the fire to kindle the flame. Be careful with the Spanish press on the right in the coming days and weeks, as it will be no less the triumph of the documentary Tardes de soledad in Donostia-San Sebastián. Grand Prix of the Festival.

The Catalan filmmaker Albert Serra is known as a provocator, and not only wanted to confirm that it comes like this, but has taken a step further with this documentary. Play on that. A two-hour, five-minute tape goes beyond provocation for many hearts. And he said no, that it is not a film either for or against the Tauromaquia, and that is what they have repeatedly stressed in various media outlets after their release last Monday. Serra approached torero Andrés Roca Rey “without ideology” and did so for his “fascination” with the “art” of the toreros, “with pleasure”, a five-year recording.

On many occasions it has been pointed out in the press that Serra does not place his own cameras in places that are placed on bullfighting festivities that are held less and less frequently on Spanish television channels. When they kill a bull, it is more common for the bull chamber to be accompanied by a torero, to open the plane and for the public to see how it takes it, than what Serra has done. In Lonely Evenings, the camera is still recording the bull for a few seconds, and everything else comes out of the plane. Serra has been praised for leaving this routine and for focusing on the bull is the way to visualize this violence, which makes it “less favorable” to the Tauromaquia.

Since it is a documentary and images are collected from outside the plaza, it was expected that some reflections or concerns of the bullfighter would also appear. But that's not the case. I think almost the only concern of the bullfighter is whether the audience has been comfortable, cut their ears to the bull, etc.

"The bullfights will once be over, and the documentary is a great graphic document," he added. This is the argument that we have heard in the Kursaal environment since it premiered on Monday.

Liturgy of the images

Throughout the film, the torero Andrés Roca Rey, known as faena, will kill about eight bulls. From there to the costumes, the pictures of the van and the scenes of the hotel, and back to the plaza. It's not much more than a movie.

In fact, taking the film in cold, aesthetically valued, it must be acknowledged that it has received high quality images: the breath of the bull is perfectly heard, even that of the bullfighter, all with great clarity and purity. And it's also clarity when the bull is wrapped in banners and swords in the head and neck. For the rest, as far as the image is concerned, the figure of the bull also has an aesthetic beauty and is a clear sign of what this liturgy is like.

Well, beyond the liturgy of the moment of dress, the conversations between the bull and his crew attract attention. It has about a dozen companions. I smelled your eggs! There are people who hear from there, and in general, ugly words and gestures, non-stop. And, in addition to looking at the bull with an aggressive face, they also call it “puterer” on quite a few occasions. Practical examples of toxic masculinity.

Controversy, at present

Both PACMA and Podemos showed their complaint at the premiere of the film, which took place last Monday, September 23. PACMA protested in front of Kursaal, where half a dozen people met.

The director of the Festival, José Luis Rebordinos, pointed out that the film must be seen before criticizing it, and reaffirmed these words at the press conference offered by Serra in the presentation of the documentary. Moreover, Serra said that it seemed “shameful” to place his “masterpiece” in the focupation for the topic that people work on.

PACMA, in this concentration, said that film is culture and Tauromaquia torture; and that the organization of the festival should review the issuance of this type of documentary in the Official Section, considering that it normalizes torture to animals.

The documentary will bring more controversy, surely, after winning the Golden Shell.

There is a major conflict within the Spanish Government about bullfighting. The Sumar party, a member of the Government, which holds the Ministry of Culture, eliminated in May the Spanish Grand Prix of Tauromaquia, a premise of 30,000 euros for the best torero. But the Senate, at the initiative of the pp and with the abstention of the PSOE, has formally asked the government to withdraw the resumption of the contest.