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The Beasts (as Bestas), Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Denis Ménochet, 2022
With As Bestas , Rodrigo Sorogoyen solidified his place in the top tier of contemporary filmmakers. By blending the DNA of a classic Western with the psychological depth of a European drama, he created a film that is both thrilling and deeply philosophical. It is a haunting exploration of what happens when communication completely breaks down, leaving only the primal, territorial instincts of the beasts within us.
The film's Goya haul was comprehensive, rewarding all aspects of its production: as bestas rodrigo sorogoyen
A comparison of As Bestas with Sorogoyen's .
Luis Zahera, who won a Goya Award for Best Supporting Actor, delivers a chilling, career-defining performance as Xan. Zahera infuses the character with a terrifying, unpredictable charisma. He is vindictive and cruel, yet his monologues reveal a deep-seated pain and exhaustion that makes him far more complex than a standard movie villain.
By dissecting the narrative layers, directorial choices, and thematic depth of As Bestas , we can understand how Sorogoyen transformed a local, real-life tragedy into a universal parable about human nature. The Real-Life Inspiration: From Headline to Script This public link is valid for 7 days
The title, As Bestas (Galician for "The Beasts"), refers directly to the traditional Galician festival Rapa das Bestas , where wild horses are wrestled to the ground by barehanded locals ( aloitadores ) to shear their manes. The film opens with a slow-motion, visceral sequence of this ritual. It serves as a metaphor for the entire movie: a brutal display of dominant masculinity, physical subjugation, and the struggle to tame the untamable. Directed by Sorogoyen: Crafting the Pressure Cooker
A standout sequence involves an extended, single-take conversation in the local bar where Xan systematically deconstructs Antoine's identity, mockingly calling him "Frenchy." The camera remains static, trapping the viewer in the booth alongside the characters, making the psychological claustrophobia palpable.
Rodrigo Sorogoyen does not shoot Galicia as a postcard. He shoots it as a labyrinth. Cinematographer Álex de Pablo uses wide shots that dwarf the human figures. The monte (the mountain bushland) is a character in itself—scratchy, flammable, and impenetrable. In the film’s most stunning sequence (the night of the murder), the camera stays static as the characters vanish into the thick fog. We hear the screams before we see the act. It is a return to classical Greek tragedy: the violence happens off-stage, but its echo is unbearable. Can’t copy the link right now
, as the menacing Xan, provides a chilling portrayal of deep-seated resentment. Critical Success and Themes My 2023: A Year Interrupted | Nobody Knows Anybody 1 Jan 2024 —
Xan frequently refers to Antoine mockingly as "The Frenchman." This xenophobia is not born out of abstract political ideology, but out of class resentment. Xan views Antoine as a privileged outsider who has already tasted wealth and comfort, only to come to Galicia to dictate how impoverished locals should live.
As Bestas asks a brutal question: If someone is starving, how much moral authority does a well-fed person have to tell them they cannot eat?