‘Alcarràs’ Filmmaker Carla Simón On The Complexities Of Tradition Versus Innovation In Her Spanish Oscar Entry – Contenders International
deadline.comDirector and co-writer Carla Simón tells a story that’s close to her heart in Alcarràs, Spain’s entry for the International Feature Oscar race.
The tale of peach farmers facing eviction and losing more than their home won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year.
In the film, the Solé family has spent every summer picking the peaches from their orchard in the titular Catalonian village.
But this year’s crop could be their last as new plans for the land include cutting down the trees and installing solar panels, which causes a rift within the large, tight-knit family. RELATED: The – Deadline’s Full Coverage During Deadline’s Contenders Film: International award-season event, Simón told us that her uncles cultivate peaches which was an impetus for the movie. ”The idea came to me when my grandfather died and I thought for the first time what would happen if these trees that he planted in this place that we all share as a family disappeared.” The tradition of agriculture in a small family group is “one of the oldest jobs in the world,” said Simón.
Read more on deadline.com