Jonás Trueba’s debut at the Cannes Festival ended with a great triumph. You will return, his comedy about a couple who decide to celebrate their breakup with a party after 14 years together, has won the award for best European film at the Filmmakers’ Fortnight, a parallel section of the French competition.
The story, starring Itsaso Arana and Vito Sanz, Trueba’s favorite actors, who has also co-written the script with them, has captivated the Fortnight, which does not give out its own awards because it is not competitive, but several of its partners do give out recognitions and sponsors, such as in this case the European Cinema Network. It is the second consecutive year that Spanish cinema has achieved this award after the recognition of Elena Martín for Creatura in 2023. “The well-crafted and nuanced film by Jonás Trueba has an unusual premise, it tells the story of a couple who adopts a ritual novel. Before their separation, they choose to celebrate their 14 years of relationship with a party. Written intelligently and with humor, the film’s circular structure displays a generous spirit in its inspiring look at human relationships. “It is a beacon of positivity and we believe it will attract audiences throughout Europe,” reads the jury’s statement.
The award supports the exhibition through the Europa Cinemas Network in more than 3,000 theaters in 39 countries, which will contribute to the international distribution of the film. “It is almost the best award you can imagine, real, tangible, practical,” Trueba mentioned after hearing the news from Spain. “It opens up possibilities for the film, which in the end is what it’s all about, for films to be seen and, above all, for them to reach cinemas, public spaces, and countries where it is normally very difficult for us to reach. Especially with small films, with independent films like ours,” he adds.
You will be Trueba’s eighth film and it is full of self-references, yet the 42-year-old director from Madrid sees it as “our most fictional film,” as he confessed to this newspaper just a few days ago. In addition, his father, the Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba, appears as an actor in it, who assumes the role of father of the character of Arana.
The original idea of celebrating the breakup comes from a premise of the director of Belle Époque himself. “I really wanted to film my father because the film was fundamentally born from the desire to have my father on stage, in a small way but in the end it is noticeable. It has been the great challenge of the film, to film him, to make him feel comfortable and so that we could laugh about it,” said the director during his conversation with La Vanguardia.