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Coven (2020 film)

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Coven
Film poster
BasqueAkelarre
Directed byPablo Agüero
Written byPablo Agüero
Katell Guillou
Produced byFred Prémel
Iker Ganuza
Koldo Zuazua
Starring
CinematographyJavier Agirre
Edited byTeresa Font
Music byMaite Arrotajauregi
Aránzazu Calleja
Production
companies
  • Sorgin Films
  • Lamia Producciones Audiovisuales
  • Kowalski Films
  • Gariza Produkzioak, Tita Productions
  • La Fidèle Productions
  • Tita B. Productions
  • Campocine
Release dates
  • 19 September 2020 (2020-09-19) (SSIFF)
  • 2 October 2020 (2020-10-02) (Spain)
Running time
90 minutes
Countries
  • Spain
  • Argentina
  • France
Languages

Coven (Basque: Akelarre) is a 2020 historical drama film directed by Pablo Agüero, starring Amaia Aberasturi and Alex Brendemühl.[1][2]

It won five Goya Awards from a total of nine nominations at the 35th Goya Awards.[3][4] At the 8th Feroz Awards, the film was nominated in six categories.[5]

The film was produced by Sorgin Films, Lamia Producciones Audiovisuales, Kowalski Films, Gariza Produkzioak, Tita Productions, La Fidèle Productions, Tita B. Productions and Campocine.[6]

Plot

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In 1609 in the Basque Country a group of five teenagers are captured and arrested as main suspects of witchcraft, as they celebrated a party in the woods. Judge Rostegui, given the task of purifying the region by the King, arrests the girls and accuses them of witchcraft. He decides to do whatever it takes to make them confess, and tell him what they know about the akelarre, a ceremony with magical connotations, during which the Devil is said to initiate his servants and mate with them.

Even though they deny it, and there is no evidence against them, they are arrested and tortured in order to force them to sign a written confession. After another of their friends is arrested, one of the girls, Ana, confesses to be a witch, claiming she cast a spell on the rest of her sisters and friends. Ana's plan is to gain enough time for the girls to organise an escape when the men of the village return from their fishing. As a result she spends a whole day confessing a detailed sabbath festivity - in reality a twisted version of the party she and the girls held before their arrest. 

Judge Rostegui postpones the girls' execution when Ana says she can only use her magic in every full moon night as she feels Lucifer's calling. Her portrayal convinces Rostegui who offers to deliver every item for the sabbath which causes some of his men to distrust him. One of his allies warns him that after the full moon, the village men will return and the girls will be set free. Rostegui rushes the girls' execution and takes them to the woods for the ceremony with all of Ana's specifications. Understanding their situation, Ana leads her friends in a dance demonstration as they play along as witches and sing in the Basque language. Rostegui is entranced, but all of his men, along with village's priest are frightened of the "sabbath". 

Ana and the rest of the girls flee as Rostegui and his men have an argument; a chase through the woods ensues until the girls are cornered at a cliff. As they join hands, one of the village women elders sings in Basque about the tide brought by the full moon which motivates the girls to jump off from the cliff to Rostegui and his men's surprise. 

Cast

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Reception

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Coven received generally positive reviews from film critics. It holds an 86% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes based on fourteen reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10.[7]

Awards

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Awards Category Nominated Result
Goya Awards Best Actress Amaia Aberasturi Nominated
Best Cinematography Javier Agirre Nominated
Best Art Direction Mikel Serrano Won
Best Production Supervision Guadalupe Balaguer Trelles Nominated
Best Sound Urko Garai, Josefina Rodriguez, Frédéric Hamelin and Leandro de Loredo Nominated
Best Special Effects Mariano García Marty and Ana Rubio Won
Best Costume Design Nerea Torrijos Won
Best Makeup and Hairstyles Beata Wotjowicz and Ricardo Molina Won
Best Original Score Maite Arrotajauregi and Aránzazu Calleja Won
Feroz Awards Best Drama Film Nominated
Best Trailer Nominated
Best Film Poster Nominated
Best Actress Amaia Aberasturi Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Alex Brendemühl Nominated
Best Original Soundtrack Maite Arrotajauregi and Aránzazu Calleja Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Ramon, Esteban (19 September 2020). "Akelarre: el empoderamiento y rebeldía de las brujas vascas de siglo XVII". rtve.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  2. ^ Romney, Jonathan (22 September 2020). "Akelarre: San Sebastian Review". screendaily.com. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  3. ^ Roxborough, Scott; Szalai, Georg (18 January 2021). "Netflix Drama Leads Spain's Goya Awards Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Premios Goya 2021: consulta aquí la lista completa de ganadores". eldiario.es (in Spanish). Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  5. ^ "La boda de Rosa, Las ninas y Akelarre encabezan las nominaciones a los premios Feroz". rtve.es (in Spanish). 10 December 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Premios Feroz 2021: 'La boda de Rosa', de Icíar Bollaín, y 'Patria', de Aitor Gabilondo, favoritas". El Mundo. 10 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Coven of Sisters". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
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