Brecha (2009 film)


Brecha is a 2009 Spanish drama film written and directed by Iván Noel and starring Francisco Alfonsin. It is Noel's second feature film effort, following his critically acclaimed directorial debut En tu ausencia.

Plot

Andrés, recently released from prison, attempts to reconnect with his twelve-year-old son, José Ramón, following a dark family tragedy that resulted in the loss of their wife and mother, respectively. But as they attempt to reconcile, the situation worsens as neither of them has the strength to confront the past.

Cast

Prior to filming, writer-director Iván Noel spent a year living in the village of Lebrija in southern Spain, the location in which the film was eventually shot. He spent this time adapting the script, networking and earning the trust of the locals in order to make the best possible use of the location and the people there.
Like Noel's first film, En tu ausencia, all of the characters portrayed in the film were played by non-actors, most of whom were discovered by Noel living in the village and essentially play themselves. One exception is Francisco Alfonsin, who played Andrés. Alfonsin at the time was already a veteran actor who had previously worked with Noel on En tu ausencia.
According to Noel, the film had a negative budget. After not making any money from his first film, En tu ausencia, he was broke. He borrowed the equipment from a TV channel and his entire cast and crew worked for free. He also shoplifted the DV tapes which the film was shot on from a local supermarket, not having any money with which to purchase them.