About El Planeta (HBO)

"El Planeta" is a dark comedy film set in the backdrop of a struggling economy in Spain. The movie, directed by Amalia Ulman and released in 2021, is a mix of deadpan humor and economic realism. The story revolves around a mother and daughter duo who resort to small scams to make ends meet, after the death of their family's patriarch, amid the economic crisis.

Making / Production

The film is the directorial debut of Amalia Ulman, who is also the lead actress and writer of the film. It is an independent film that presents a semi-autobiographical account of Ulman's own life. The production features naturalist performances and a mundane representation of life, all shot in black and white to accentuate the bleak economic situation.

Actors

• Amalia Ulman as Leonor: Amalia realistically portrays a destitute yet resourceful woman struggling to survive the economic crisis. Her deadpan humor and emotional gravity leave a lasting impression.
• Ale Ulman as Maria: Ale, playing the role of Amalia's mother, consistently brings out the desperation of a woman trying to uphold her dignity amid poverty.
• Zhou Chen as the Chinese Shop Keeper: Zhou effectively portrays the nature of mundane interactions in a struggling economy.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• "El Planeta" is Ulman’s first feature film as a director. She has been lauded for her successful transition from being a renowned artist to a promising filmmaker.
• The film is mostly in Spanish but also includes some dialogue in English, reflecting the protagonist's global life experiences.
• This movie was shot in Gijón, a coastal city in Spain, which is also the hometown of Amalia Ulman.
• Ironically, the literal translation of "El Planeta" is 'the planet', however, the movie's theme is intensely local and personal.

Quotes

• "Lo extravagante no es un crimen, María."
• "El lujo no es un delito, Leonor."

Music, Soundtrack

Though a significant portion of the movie focuses on visual storytelling and ordinary ambient sounds to depict a struggling economy, the musical interludes are deftly used to break the monotony and add drama to the visual narrative. The soundtrack details are not publicly available yet.