Spain’s Homage to Tarantino-Rodriguez’s Grindhouse: Enrique Diego’s ‘Doble Sesion’

Out in Spanish theatres is our very own very of Tarantino-Rodriguez’s Grindhouse. “Doble Sesión” is a genre feature film composed of two medium-length films, “Ríos Revueltos” and “Sandra Munt” a double bill salute to the theatre experience of the 1980’s. Written and directed by Enrique Diego, “Ríos Revueltos” is a journey into a post-apocalyptic Spain in which the silent “Largo” and the talkative “Candolini” cross the country through devastated cities until an unexpected happening transforms their friendship into a cat and mouse game. The film stars a cast of unknowns and newcomers such as Alberto Millán, Nicola Reale Bartolotto, Judit Molero, José Gallego and Fernando Ganzo. In the words of the film’s producer and co-director Rubén Arnaiz (segment “Sandra Munt”) this is influenced by “…spaghetti westerns, Sam Peckinpah, or even Berlanga.”

“Sandra Munt”, directed by Rubén Arnaiz, is set in 1941, the titular character is a Spanish archeologist in search of a missing writer who owns the legendary book of Al-Azif which brings madness to whoever reads it and it is being tracked down by the Nazis. For Arnaiz the influences in this case are “…the world of H.P Lovecraft, whose world surrounds the main characters, and the American film noir from the 40’s: “Casablanca”, “Dark Passage” or in my opinion the best film ever shot: “Double Indemnity”…”

The film was born from the desire to extend a very short short film and shorten up the other one which was considered to be too dense and long. With a very limited budget of 20 000 euros, the project has already gathered international distribution (from British One Eyed Films) but is still looking for a national deal. The creature effects and special effects and props are supervised by local studio Serendipia. Here’s more info on the project.