Rodrigo Sorogoyen's 'El ser querido' Explores Estranged Father-Daughter Bond on a Desert Film Set

Rodrigo Sorogoyen's movie, El ser querido, features Javier Bardem and Victoria Luengo as Esteban and Emilia, a father and daughter whose bond is explored through dialogue. The film draws comparisons to Joachim Trier's Valor sentimental, where a daughter, an actress, navigates a shoot with her aloof filmmaker father. However, El ser querido delves into the tensions that arise during filming in the Canary Islands, mirroring the characters' psychological struggles. Unlike the explanatory exchanges in Valor sentimental, this film employs minimal dialogue to subtly suggest their estrangement, culminating in a brief chat towards the conclusion. The lead actors portray characters conscious of each other's shortcomings, leading to intense moments of authority and mimicry, with supporting performances from Raúl Arévalo, Marina Foïs, and Raúl Prieto enriching the story.