The Belly of the Sea
The Belly of the Sea () is a 2021 Spanish drama film directed and written by Agustí Villaronga, based on the novel "Ocean Sea" by Italian writer Alessandro Baricco. It was shot in black and white and stars Roger Casamajor and Òscar Kapoya. Plot. In June, 1816, the French frigate Alliance runs aground off the coast of Senegal. Without enough boats for everyone, a raft is built to tow 147 men to shore. But panic and confusion seize the convoy and cut the tow rope, abandoning the raft to its fate. Hunger, madness and a fierce  fight break out on that drifting raft. Savigny, a ruthless medical officer, and Thomas, a rebellious private sailor, face each other with a different attitude to survive. A horror that lasted for days and days. A scene where the greatest of cruelties and the sweetest of pieties were shown. Production. "The Belly of the Sea" was produced by Testamento and La Perifèrica Produccions alongside Turkana Films, Link-up Barcelona and Bastera Films, with the participation of IB3 and TV3, funding from the ICAA, support from the ICEC, and the sponsoring of Fundació Mallorca Turisme and the Mallorca Film Commission. It  was fully shot in the island of Mallorca. Release. The film made its world premiere at the 43rd Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF) in April 2021 as part of the official competition. In June 2021, it also screened at the Málaga Spanish Film Festival (FMCE), where it won six awards including the Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film. It was likewise presented at the 69th San Sebastián International Film Festival, screened as part of the 'Made in Spain' section. Distributed by Elástica Films and Filmin, it was released in Spain on 12 November 2021. Critical reception. On review aggregator website  Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 60% based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 5.80. Javier Ocaña from "El País" commented "it's not an easy film, although it is a relevant study on cowardice and ineptitude, abandonment and forgetfulness, which unfortunately extends through the ages". Writing for "Fotogramas", Beatriz Martínez rated the film four out of five stars, marvelling how, with a very low budget, Villaronga managed to create a masterpiece.