Hours of Light

{{Infobox film

| image = Hours of Light poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| native_name = {{Infobox name module|es|Horas de luz|nolink=yes}}

| producer = Gustavo Ferrada

| director = Manolo Matji

| starring = {{ubl|Alberto San Juan|Emma Suárez|José Ángel Egido|Vicente Romero|Andrés Lima|Ana Wagener|Aitor Merino|Paco Marín}}

| screenplay = {{ubl|José Ángel Esteban|Carlos López|Manolo Matji}}

| cinematography = José Luis López Linares

| editing = José María Biurrun

| music = Alfonso de Vilallonga

| studio = {{ubl|La Fiesta PC|Sogecine}}

| distributor = Warner Sogefilms

| country = Spain

| language = Spanish

| released = {{Film date|2004|09|20|Zinemaldia|2004|09|24|Spain|df=yes}}

}}

Hours of Light aka Light Hours ({{langx|es|Horas de luz|links=no}}){{Cite web|url=https://www.sansebastianfestival.com/2004/secciones_y_peliculas/seccion_oficial/7/520597/es|publisher=San Sebastián International Film Festival|access-date=2 October 2022|title=Horas de luz / Hours of Light}} is a 2004 Spanish romance and prison drama film directed by {{ill|Manolo Matji|es}} which stars Alberto San Juan and Emma Suárez.

Plot

Based on a real events, the plot tracks the romantic relationship established in 1991 between prison nurse María del Mar "Marimar" Villar and {{ill|Juan José Garfia|es}}, imprisoned because of the cold-blood murder of three in 1987.

Cast

{{Cast listing|

Alberto San Juan as {{ill|Juan José Garfia|es}}
Emma Suárez as Mari Mar
José Ángel Egido as Chincheta{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/especiales/2005/01/cultura/goya/peli_horas.html|website=elmundo.es|access-date=2 October 2022|title=Horas de luz|date=January 2005}}
Vicente Romero as Morata
Andrés Lima as Granizo
Ana Wagener as Chus
{{ill|Aitor Merino|es}} as Tormo
Daniel Núñez as Chester
{{ill|Paco Marín|es|Paco Marín (actor)}} as Rafa

}}

Production

A Sogecine and La Fiesta production, the film had the participation of TVE, Telemadrid, and Canal+. Shooting began on 2 June 2003 and lasted for 8 weeks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/spain-production-listings-march-9-2004/4017720.article|date=9 March 2004|website=ScreenDaily|title=SPAIN Production Listings - March 9 2004}} The former Hospital Militar del Generalísimo in Calle de Isaac Peral (Madrid) stood in for indoor prison settings.{{Cite web|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2003/07/25/cine/1059084001_850215.html|website=El País|title=Garfia, del crimen al amor entre rejas|date=25 July 2003|first=Rocío|last=García}} Some outdoor scenes were shot in Leganés.{{Cite web|url=https://leganesactivo.com/2022/03/01/se-graba-en-leganes/|website=Leganés activo|date=1 March 2022|title=Historia de Leganés: ¿Qué películas y series se han grabado en Leganés?}}

Release

The film premiered in competition at the 52nd San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/09/21/espectaculos/1095717603_850215.html|website=El País|first=Ángel S.|last=Harguindey|title=Una sobria y notable 'Horas de luz'|date=21 September 2004}} It was met by a chilly reception by the festival audience.{{Cite web|url=https://elpais.com/cultura/2004/09/20/actualidad/1095631203_850215.html|website=El País|title=El público recibe con frialdad 'Horas de luz', la única película española a concurso|date=20 September 2004}} Distributed by Warner Sogefilms, it was theatrically released in Spain on 24 September 2004.

Reception

Jonathan Holland of Variety considered that despite its commendable intentions, the film is "hampered by its script's inability to follow through the logic of its premise to the emotionally satisfying conclusion it merits".{{Cite web|website=Variety|date=7 October 2004|title=Light Hours|first=Jonathan|last=Holland|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/light-hours-1200530428/}}

Casimiro Torreiro of El País considered the film to be both a discourse about remorse and a bet for social rehabilitation.{{Cite web|website=El País|first=Casimiro|last=Torreiro|date=24 September 2004|title=Delitos y culpas|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2004/09/24/cine/1095976822_850215.html}}

Accolades

| rowspan = "2" align = "center" | 2005 || rowspan = "2" | 19th Goya Awards || Best Original Screenplay || José Ángel Esteban, Manolo Matji, Carlos López || {{nom}} || rowspan = "2" | {{Cite web|url=https://www.premiosgoya.com/pelicula/horas-de-luz/|access-date=2 October 2022|title=Horas de luz|publisher=Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España|website=premiosgoya.com}}

| Best Editing || José María Biurrun || {{nom}}