Madrid, 1987 (2011) – A Tense and Intimate Battle of Wits
Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: David Trueba
Starring: José Sacristán, María Valverde
Madrid, 1987 is a minimalist yet emotionally charged Spanish drama that explores themes of power, generational conflict, and the complex dance between attraction and ideology. Directed by David Trueba, the film unfolds almost entirely in a single location, creating a claustrophobic intimacy that intensifies the psychological stakes.
Set during the political and cultural transition of post-Franco Spain, the story follows Miguel (José Sacristán), a grizzled, respected journalist, and Ángela (María Valverde), a young journalism student. What begins as a seemingly routine interview quickly escalates into a battle of ideals, egos, and suppressed desires after the two find themselves accidentally locked naked in a small bathroom.
The film strips away distractions—both literally and figuratively—forcing its characters (and the audience) to confront deeper questions about truth, ambition, youth, aging, and the shifting dynamics between men and women. Sacristán delivers a commanding performance, full of bitter wit and fading arrogance, while Valverde brings subtle strength and vulnerability as the determined yet introspective student.
Trueba’s direction is deliberate, allowing long stretches of dialogue to unravel in real time, lending the film a stage-play quality. This theatrical approach heightens the emotional and intellectual tension between the leads, who represent two generations trying to understand and challenge each other.
Madrid, 1987 isn’t a conventional romance or political drama—it’s a cerebral, emotionally raw chamber piece that leans into discomfort to provoke thought. With just two actors, one setting, and a wealth of unspoken emotion, it captures the paradoxes of human connection and the uneasy balance between intimacy and manipulation.
Thought-provoking and artistically daring, the film stands as a quiet triumph of character-driven storytelling, anchored by two powerful performances and a script that dares to linger where most films would turn away.
