On This Side of the World
(A este lado del mundo)
David Trueba | Drama, Fiction
2020 | 96 minutes | Spain
A deep and global look at migrations, borders, and the most insurmountable walls erected by mankind, directed by David Trueba.
Synopsis
On This Side of the Wall is a deep and global look at migrations, borders, and the most insurmountable walls erected by mankind.
Alberto, a dull and indolent engineer, is fired from his company just as he plans to buy a house with his girlfriend and become parents. To cover it up, he decides to accept an assignment from his former boss to travel to the city of Melilla, a Spanish enclave in North Africa and gate to Europe.
Alberto must renovate, underhand, the system of fences that not only separates one piece of land from another, a city from a country, but two universes in eternal collision: those who want to enter and those who prevent them from doing so. There, he will meet Nagore, a police officer in charge of guiding him through the unknown space, and he will come face to face with the complexity of one of the great issues that shake the world: immigration. Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys?
Trueba proves once again that he is a man concerned with the great conflicts of contemporary humanity, and that his approach to these conflictive issues is far from being frivolous and distant. The filmmaker observes the world with curiosity, compassion, and a multifaceted gaze, which allows him to delve deeper into the subject without losing his narrative pulse.
Reviews
“This film, which an algorithm would scarcely be likely to recommend for you, carries an uncomfortable message for its audience: the disagreeable evidence before you is that the kind of life you have will depend on where in the world you were born, as the title suggests. Where we enter the world is a damned lottery: our privilege depends on geography, and from our favoured, welcoming birthplace, we can look down on others… But what if we were the others?” – Alfonso Rivera, CINEUROPA
“Trueba has decided to focus not on the immigrant but on the citizen, so that his audience has to face these problems head-on, rather than avoiding them like a coward, as his almost ridiculous antihero has until now.” – Alfonso Rivera, CINEUROPA
Citation
Main credits
Trueba, David (film director)
Alarcón, Anna (actor)
Topera, Janfri (actor)
Notario, Joaquín (actor)
Maldonado, Ondina (actor)
Sanz, Vito (actor)
Barry, Zidane (actor)
Villalonga, Marga (film producer)
Other credits
Cinematography, Julio César Tortuero; editor, Marta Velasco; music, Tali Rubenstein, Layth Sidiq, Javier Limón.
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Afro-Latin Studies
Criminal Justice
Culture + Identity
Economics + Social Class Issues
Geography
Human Rights
Iberian Studies
International Relations
Migration Studies
Political Science
Race + Ethnicity
Sociology
Keywords
Clips
Festivals
Marsella Spanish Film Festival
Málaga Film Festival
DIRECTOR: David Trueba
NATIONALITY: Spain
YEAR: 2020
GENRE: Drama, Fiction
LANGUAGE: Spanish
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: High School, College, Adults
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
Existing customers, please log in to view this film.
New to Pragda? Register to request a quote.
Related Films
In Between
Aquí estamos
The Authority
Hijab
Hiyab
Inner Borderlines
Visions of America Through the Eyes of Alejandro Morales
Farrucas
The Deer
Oreina
Drowning Letters
Cartas mojadas
The Rock
La roca
We All Like Plantain
A todos nos gusta el plátano
Wilaya
Alegria
Alegría
Related Collections
Fiction Films
A compelling glimpse into Spain and Latin America's rich storytelling traditions, showcasing a blend of established directors and emerging voices. Each film highlights the depth and creativity of the region.
Number of titles: 275
SEE COLLECTION >Spanish Language Films
A cinematic highlight of the magic and diversity of the Spanish language.
Number of titles: 440
SEE COLLECTION >Immigration and Exile
A captivating exploration of migration and exile experiences.
Number of titles: 109
SEE COLLECTION >High School Collection
Given varying criteria for content ratings and age restrictions in different regions, Pragda STREAM recommends faculty watch films in their entirety before assigning them to students.
Number of titles: 509
SEE COLLECTION >The Pragda Complete Film Collection
The essence of Spain and Latin America captured in their original language with English captions or subtitles.
Number of titles: 637
SEE COLLECTION >Afro-Latin Narratives
Unveiling Afro-Latin America: their culture, challenges, and the profound contributions of their communities.
Number of titles: 74
SEE COLLECTION >Labor Lens: Work and Society
A cinematic exploration of the complexities, struggles, and triumphs of the working world, showcasing the diverse narratives and experiences that shape our understanding of labor and its context.
Number of titles: 238
SEE COLLECTION >Criminal Justice
A riveting selection of films that provoke conversations on topics such as wrongful convictions, systemic issues, life in prison, and the human stories behind crime and punishment.
Number of titles: 155
SEE COLLECTION >