The Nevenka Affair: relentless and chilling (review)

By tackling the first case of Spanish political Metoo, Iciar Bollain signs a work in perfect balance between thriller and denunciation cinema.

It is a case that has had a profound impact on Spanish society, which has today become one of the most active in Europe in the defense of women’s rights. The story of Nevenka Fernández, elected at the end of the 90s at the age of 25 as a municipal councilor under Ismael Alvarez, a very charismatic mayor, with whom, after a brief affair, she will experience hell against a backdrop of harassment. Her word is then worth, in this first case of #MeToo politics in the country, much less than that of the city councilor. By taking up this case, Iciar Bollain intends to give voice again to the victim who at the time had a majority of public opinion against her. And this is why fiction – which allows us to live this story with it – seems in fact the best way to get to grips with it, showing moments which could not have existed in documentary, due to lack of archives.

Actress in Land and freedomBollain (Even the rain) has developed as a director an engaged cinema in touch with society. Without sleeve effect, the form is always at the service of the substance. And it is all the space and time that she leaves to her characters which pays off here and prevents Nevenka or Alvarez (played by the stunning Mirelia Oriol and Urko Olazabal) from being reduced to archetypes. The assumed programmatic aspect of the film constitutes another major asset, reminding us that in these cases, the same causes always produce the same effects at the same moments under the gaze of those who think that the female victims were looking for it. A relentless and chilling film.

By Iciar Bollain. With Mireia Oriol, Urko Olazabal, Ricardo Gomez… Duration 1h57