The Realm (2019 Spain)
Drama, Genre
, trackback
Director: Rodrigo Sorogoyen
Starring:  Antonio de la Torre, Mónica López, Josep Maria Pou
Genre: Political drama
Duration: 122 mins Â
Whether the corruption in Spanish politics is a question of a few rotten apples or is tantamount to organized crime is part of an ongoing national debate, and The Realm firmly and excitingly comes down in favor of the latter option. Part thriller, part moral skewering and sadly part realistic portrayal, it is guided by a terrific performance from  Antonio de la Torre at the center of some fine ensemble work. It bowls along at an increasingly urgent, expertly handled pace, sacrificing nuance for impact in a way that feels entirely at one with the crude, morally unshaded world its protagonists have created. Though it’s as Spanish as chorizo, The Realm‘s concerns, at a time of great political distrust, are universal.