The film is essentially a two-person chamber piece, relying heavily on the chemistry and performance of its leads.
On IMDb, David Trueba’s 2011 Spanish drama Madrid, 1987 holds a modest but telling profile. As of its most recent data, the film carries a 6.7/10 rating from several thousand user votes—a score that reflects its polarizing, art-house nature rather than mainstream appeal. The page lists key credits: director David Trueba, stars José Sacristán and María Valverde, and a runtime of 105 minutes. But the numbers only hint at the film’s true character.
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The film Madrid, 1987 is a Spanish drama directed by David Trueba, centered on a long, intellectual, and intimate encounter between two strangers trapped in a bathroom. 🎬 Movie Overview Director: David Trueba
Cast: José Sacristán (Miguel) and María Valverde (Ángela) Genre: Drama Setting: A small, locked bathroom in a Madrid apartment
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10 (Note: Some sources may list different ratings for similarly named older films) 📖 Plot Summary
The story follows Miguel, a bitter, aging journalist and professor, and Ángela, a young, ambitious journalism student. The film is essentially a two-person chamber piece,
Miguel invites Ángela to a friend's studio under the guise of an interview.
He attempts to seduce her, but the situation turns awkward when they both end up naked and accidentally locked inside a tiny bathroom.
They are forced to spend the next 24 hours together with no way out.
The film transitions from a "cat-and-mouse" seduction into a deep, philosophical dialogue about life, aging, politics, and the generational gap in post-transition Spain. 💡 Key Themes Skip it if you:
Generational Conflict: The clash between the disillusioned elders of the Spanish Transition and the hopeful, naive youth of the 1980s.
Vulnerability: Physical nudity serves as a metaphor for stripping away social defenses and pretenses.
Power Dynamics: How the shift from a teacher-student relationship to a shared survival situation changes who holds the "power."
Artistic Identity: Miguel’s cynicism toward his own career and the changing landscape of media.
📌 Note: This film is often praised for its "minimalist" approach, relying almost entirely on dialogue and the performances of its two lead actors.
Skip it. The IMDb Parents Guide is correct to issue warnings. This is not erotica; it is uncomfortable intellectual debate. But that is precisely the point. Trueba forces you to squirm, not from lust, but from the realization that you are voyeur to a political autopsy.