Annual Top Films Lists

Top 100 Most Anticipated Foreign Films of 2017: #57. Pablo Berger’s Abracadabra

Published on January 5, 2017

Abracadabra

Director: Pablo Berger
Writer: Pablo Berger

Spanish director Pablo Berger achieved breakout success with his 2012 sophomore film Blancanieves, a black and white rendition of Snow White filtered through the bullfighting scene of 1920s Seville. Berger reunites with leading lady Maribel Verdu for his latest, Abracadabra, a project described as a dark comedy with hints of sci-fi and suspense when a Madrid housewife suspects her husband has been possessed by an evil spirit. Wardrobe designer Paco Delgado also reunites with Berger, which promises a new film as visually sumptuous as it is entertaining.

Cast: Maribel Verdu, Antonio de la Torre, Jose Mota, Quim Gutierrez, Jose Maria Pou

Production Co./Producer(s): Arcadia Motion Pictures, Persefone Films AIE, Noodles Productions, Atresmedia Cine, Movistar+, Scopt Pictures.

U.S. Distributor: Rights available.

Release Date: Blancanieves premiered out of TIFF before cascading through the festival circuit and snagging several Goya awards. We expect Berger’s latest to be featured in a notable line-up prior to the fall, and seems a perfect fit for something like the Directors’ Fortnight.

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Nicholas Bell

Los Angeles based Nicholas Bell is IONCINEMA.com's Chief Film Critic and covers film festivals such as Sundance, Berlin, Cannes and TIFF. He is part of the critic groups on Rotten Tomatoes, The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and GALECA. His top 3 for 2021: France (Bruno Dumont), Passing (Rebecca Hall) and Nightmare Alley (Guillermo Del Toro). He was a jury member at the 2019 Cleveland International Film Festival.