AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE

15 Years + 1 Day

(15 AÑOS Y UN DIA)

Director: Gracia Querejeta Country: Spain 2013 96 mins Drama Spanish with English subtitles Cast: Maribel Verdú, Tito Valverde, Arón Piper, Belén López

Coinciding with its premiere in Spain, 15 Years + 1 Day is a moving drama that marks the triumphant return of director Gracia Querejeta to the big screen.

Margo (Maribel Verdú, Belle Époque, Y tu mamá también) is struggling to deal with her son, Jon (Arón Piper) a rebellious and freespirited teenager who runs with a bad crowd. After Jon is expelled from school, Margo sends him to live with his grandfather Max (Tito Valverde, El comisario, Todos los hombre sois iguales), a retired military officer who lives in a small coastal town and believes he can fix his grandson with his own style of discipline. This new home does not equal an attitude change, and when Jon is seriously injured after being involved in a grave crime, both boy and man will learn to face their fears and limitations.

Director Gracia Querejeta (Una estación de paso, Siete mesas de billar francés) drew from experiences with her own son to create this honest and touching film which sensitively illustrates, with superb precision, the difficulties of being both a child and an adult. She has drawn exceptional performances from her cast, with Arón Piper a standout in his first screen appearance, and the always brilliant Maribel Verdú as a mother struggling to make a better life for her child.

Special screenings of 15 YEARS + 1 DAY in Melbourne and Canberra will be introduced by Spanish actress and festival guest Maribel Verdú - click for session information.

Not screening in Perth/Byron Bay.

  • 2013 Malaga Film Festival
All non-English language films will screen in the festival with English subtitles.