Once Upon a Time in Euskadi
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Once Upon a Time in Euskadi poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| native_name = {{Infobox name module|es|Érase una vez en Euskadi|nolink=yes}}
| director = Manu Gómez
| screenplay = Manu Gómez
| producer = Beatriz Bodegas
| starring = {{ubl|Asier Flores|Aitor Calderón|Miguel Rivera|Hugo García|Luis Callejo|Marian Álvarez|Vicente Vergara|Pilar Gómez|Vicente Romero}}
| cinematography = Javier Salmones
| editing = Ángel Hernández Zoido
| music = Aránzazu Calleja
| released = {{Film date|2021|09|22|Zinemaldia|2021|10|29|Spain|df=yes}}
| country = Spain
| studio = {{ubl|La Canica Films|Érase mi cuadrilla AIE}}
| language = Spanish
| distributor = eOne
}}
Once Upon a Time in Euskadi ({{langx|es|Érase una vez en Euskadi|links=no}}){{Cite web|access-date=12 August 2023|url=https://www.sansebastianfestival.com/admin_img/documentos/informe_2021_memoria_in.pdf|title=Report 2021|publisher=San Sebastián International Film Festival|page=47}} is a 2021 Spanish coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Manu Gómez. It stars Asier Flores, Aitor Calderón, Miguel Rivera, and Hugo García alongside Luis Callejo, Marian Álvarez, Vicente Vergara, Pilar Gómez, and Vicente Romero.
Plot
Set in the Summer of 1985 in the Basque Country against the backdrop of the Basque Conflict, the plot tracks the stories of a group of four children with a maketo Andalusian immigrant background.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- {{ill|Asier Flores|es}} as Marcos{{cite web|access-date=12 August 2023|url=https://infoicaa.mecd.es/CatalogoICAA/es-es/Peliculas/GetPdf?Pelicula=158719|publisher=ICAA|website=Catálogo de Cinespañol|title=Érase una vez en Euskadi}}
- Aitor Calderón as Toni
- Miguel Rivera as Paquito
- Hugo García as José Antonio
- Luis Callejo as Jesús
- Marian Álvarez as Carmen
- Vicente Vergara as Mariano
- Pilar Gómez as Josefa
- Vicente Romero as Anselmo
- María Isasi as Pura
- María Alfonsa Rosso as Concha
- Arón Piper as Maserati
- Yon González as Félix
- Ruth Díaz as Dolores
- {{ill|Josean Bengoetxea|es}} as Luis Mari
}}
Production
The film was produced by La Canica Films alongside Érase mi cuadrilla AIE, with the participation of Historias del Tío Luis, RTVE, and EiTB, funding from the ICAA, and the collaboration of CreaSGR and the Gipuzkoa Foral Deputation.{{Cite web|website=Fotogramas|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/noticias-cine/a38034703/erase-una-vez-en-euskadi-marian-alvarez-luis-callejo-aron-piperclip-exclusivo/|title='Érase una vez en Euskadi': Clip en exclusiva de lo nuevo de Marián Álvarez, Luis Callejo y Yon González|date=22 October 2021|first=María|last=Aller}} Shooting locations included Arrasate, Azkoaga, Bergara, Eibar, Elgeta, Elgoibar, Oñati, Soraluze-Placencia de las Armas, and Zumarraga.{{Cite web|website=EiTB|date=8 May 2023|url=https://www.eitb.eus/es/television/programas/la-noche-de/detalle/9195134/estreno-de-pelicula-erase-vez-en-euskadi-9-de-mayo-en-la-noche-de/|title=Estreno de la película 'Érase una vez en Euskadi', hoy, en "La Noche De…"}}
Release
The film premiered in the 'RTVE Gala' of the 69th San Sebastián International Film Festival (Zinemaldia) on 22 September 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtve.es/rtve/20210922/rtve-estrena-erase-vez-euskadi-festival-san-sebastian/2173401.shtml|website=rtve.es|title=RTVE Somos Cine Gala de cine: RTVE estrena 'Érase una vez en Euskadi' en el Festival de San Sebastián|date=22 September 2021}} Distributed by eOne, it was released theatrically in Spain on 29 October 2021.
Critical reception
Roger Salvans of Fotogramas rated the film 3 out of 5 stars highlighting the "truth and innocence" pertaining the gang of children as the film's best while negatively citing some overly dramatic final twists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/peliculas-criticas/a38076199/erase-una-vez-en-euskadi-critica-pelicula/|website=Fotogramas|first=Roger|last=Salvans|date=27 October 2021|title=Crítica de 'Érase una vez en Euskadi'}}
Toni Vall of Cinemanía rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, underscoring it to be "a skillful dive into the lives of three friends whose world is teetering".{{Cite web|website=Cinemanía|via=20minutos.es|url=https://www.20minutos.es/cinemania/criticas/critica-de-erase-una-vez-en-euskadi-4867329/|first=Toni|last=Vall|date=28 October 2021|title=Crítica de 'Érase una vez en Euskadi'}}
Raquel Hernández Luján of HobbyConsolas rated the film with 80 points ('very good'), highlighting "the setting, the most unexpected plot twists and the children's innocent look at a convulsive and complex social situation".{{Cite web|website=HobbyConsolas|title=Crítica de Érase una vez en Euskadi: algo más que un cuento nostálgico sobre la infancia|date=27 October 2021|first=Raquel|last=Hernández-Luján|url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reviews/critica-erase-vez-euskadi-algo-cuento-nostalgico-infancia-954939}}
Accolades
{{Awards table|5}}
|-
| align = "center" rowspan = "3" | 2022 || rowspan = "3" | 1st Carmen Awards || Best Supporting Actor || Vicente Romero || {{nom}} || rowspan = "3" | {{Cite web|url=https://www.diariosur.es/culturas/cine/ganadores-premios-carmen-cine-andalucia-20220129162520-nt.html|website=Diario Sur|title=Listado completo de ganadores de los Premios Carmen del Cine Andaluz|date=31 January 2022|first=C.|last=Pinto}}
|-
| Best Supporting Actress || María Alfonsa Rosso || {{nom}}
|-
| Best Sound || Diana Sagrista || {{nom}}
|}