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José Luis Guerín’s Vallbona Documentary Opens in Cinemas Feb. 13 After San Sebastián Jury Prize

He portrays a multilingual Barcelona periphery under disruptive rail works through long-term, unscripted observation.

Overview

  • Guerín’s Historias del buen valle, awarded the Special Jury Prize at the San Sebastián Film Festival, opens in theaters on February 13.
  • The director spent about three years living with Vallbona residents, avoiding a closed script and shaping the film in the edit.
  • The documentary captures a neighborhood defined by successive migration waves, with a dozen-plus languages heard on screen.
  • High-speed rail construction described as trenches is set to run for years, threatening local gardens and open spaces and intensifying development pressure.
  • Some protagonists joined Guerín at San Sebastián, and he underscores his commitment to the theatrical experience over streaming platforms.