A Bright Sun

A Bright Sun
Theatrical release poster
CatalanUn sol radiant
Directed by
  • Mònica Cambra Domínguez
  • Ariadna Fortuny Cardona
Screenplay by
  • Ariadna Fortuny Cardona
  • Clàudia Garcia de Dios
Starring
CinematographyÀssia J. La-Roca Pérez
Edited by
  • Mónica Cambra Domínguez
  • Lucía Herrera Pérez
Music byGuillermo Martorell
Production
company
Atiende Films
Distributed byBegin Again Films
Release dates
  • 24 March 2023 (2023-03-24) (D'A)
  • 17 May 2024 (2024-05-17) (Spain)
CountrySpain
LanguageCatalan

A Bright Sun (Catalan: Un sol radiant)[1] is a 2023 Spanish apocalyptic coming-of-age drama film directed by Mònica Cambra and Ariadna Fortuny. It stars Laia Artigas, Nunu Sales, Núria Prims, and Jaume Villalta. It is shot in Catalan.

Plot

The plot depicts how 11-year-old Mila faces her last days before the end of the world.[1]

Cast

Production

An Atiende Films production,[3] the film was born out as a final degree project of five Pompeu Fabra University alumni (Mònica Cambra, Ariadna Fortuny, Clàudia Garcia de Dios, Lucía Herrera, and Mònica Tort).[2] It was shot in locations of the Baix Camp comarca of Catalonia, including Masboquera [ca] and L'Hospitalet de l'Infant (Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant), Colldejou, Toll de l'Olla (Farena [ca]), Pratdip, La Mussara, and Remullà.[2]

Release

The film premiered in the 'Talents' strand of the Barcelona-based D'A Film Festival on 24 March 2023.[4] Its festival run also included a screening at the Gijón International Film Festival.[3] Distributed by Begin Again Films,[3] it was released theatrically in Spain on 17 May 2024.

Reception

Rubén Romero Santos of Cinemanía rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, writing that "Carla Simón's haptic delicacy and Lars von Trier's unredeemed nihilism" are surprisingly combined in the film.[5]

Manuel J. Lombardo of Diario de Sevilla awarded the film 2 stars, writing that everything in the film "seems to respond to a layout that is very much prefabricated and déjà vu".[6]

María Cantó of El Cultural rated the film 3½ out of 5 stars, declaring it "a delicate and simple film in its mise-en-scène, but ambitious in its existentialist approaches".[7]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2025
 17th Gaudí Awards Best New Director Mònica Cambra Domínguez, Ariadna Fortuny Cardona Nominated [8]
12th Feroz Awards Arrebato Special Award (Fiction Film) Pending [9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Un sol radiant". Spain Audiovisual Hub. Ministerio para la Transformación Digital y de la Función Pública. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Freire, Juan Manuel (14 May 2024). "¿En qué paisajes de Catalunya se rodó el drama preapocalíptico 'Un sol radiant'?". El Periódico de Catalunya. Prensa Ibérica.
  3. ^ a b c Sánchez Sequera, Marco (14 May 2024). "'Un sol radiant' – estreno en cines 17 de mayo". Audiovisual451.
  4. ^ "La película 'Un sol radiant' narra el fin del mundo a través de una niña de 11 años". El Periódico de Catalunya. Prensa Ibérica. 25 March 2023.
  5. ^ Romero Santos, Rubén (16 May 2024). "Crítica de 'Un sol radiant': apocalipsis en Casa Tarradellas". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
  6. ^ Lombardo, Manuel J. (17 May 2024). "Verano de 2023". Diario de Sevilla. Grupo Joly.
  7. ^ Cantó, María (17 May 2024). "'Un sol radiant', un delicado apocalipsis emocional en la Cataluña rural". El Cultural – via El Español.
  8. ^ "Premis Gaudí: "El 47" triomfa en una gala que també reconeix el risc de "Polvo serán"". 3/24. 19 January 2025 – via 3Cat.
  9. ^ Fernández, Luis (12 December 2024). "Los Premios Feroz anuncian los diez nominados finales para los Arrebatos de Ficción y No Ficción". Kinótico.