14/12/2021 - Álvaro Longoria and Penélope Cruz serve as the producers of this recently shot thriller, with the Madrilenian actress toplining alongside Luis Tosar

Actors Juan Diego Botto, Penélope Cruz and Luis Tosar on the set of On the Fringe (© Javier Pérez Plá)

Spanish-based Argentinian actor Juan Diego Botto (whom we saw recently in The Europeans) has just begun his career as a feature director with On the Fringe [+see also:
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interview: Juan Diego Botto
film profile], a thriller starring Penélope Cruz (nominated for the upcoming Goya Awards, for Parallel Mothers [+see also:
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making of
film profile], and who is due to release Official Competition [+see also:
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interview: Icíar Bollaín
film profile]). The cast is rounded off by Aixa Villagrán (one of the revelations from the series Perfect Life [+see also:
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Written by Botto himself (who directed a segment of the omnibus film ¡Hay motivo! as well as an episode of the series Tales of the Lockdown) and his partner, journalist Olga Rodríguez, the film – which is now in post-production after six-and-a-half weeks of principal photography in Madrid – follows 24 critical hours in the lives of three characters. The storyline unfolds on this decisive day, as the protagonists have to face up to a huge challenge by the end of this given time frame. In this way, the viewer will gradually be drip-fed more information, little by little, and so it will take them some time to decode the conflict. The countdown to the explosion of the metaphorical bomb that will scar the lives of these characters is what governs the pace of the film. This thriller against the clock is about personal relationships and affection as the driving force for carrying on in life, according to its production companies.

The movie is being produced by Penélope Cruz herself (who has previously also worn the same hat on titles such as Ma Ma [+see also:
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interview: Fernando Trueba
film profile] by Fernando Trueba, both of which she starred in) and Álvaro Longoria. We chatted to the latter and asked him what drew him to the project. “When I read the screenplay, I thought it was smart, that it sucked me in immediately and that it was original. In addition, although it talks about people with problems, it’s a thriller, a race against time. And I realised that Botto was an expert in directing actors and that performers trust him, as he has a great deal of acting experience, of course, as well as experience as a theatre director. He doesn’t seem like a first-time director. He has great sensitivity, and he knows how to bring out the best in everyone.”

Furthermore, Penélope Cruz and Juan Diego Botto have known each other since they were Dramatic Arts students at the school run by Cristina Rota, the filmmaker’s mother, and this close relationship forged over many years will be plain to see in the film. “When there’s mutual trust, you can sense it, and it has a ripple effect on the rest of the crew. In addition, Penélope is also a producer, which means that the feeling of complicity and trust was even greater,” confirms Longoria, who can’t hide how satisfied he is with this feature, which is set to become one of the big surprises of 2022. “We had a top-drawer technical and artistic team working on this, with exquisite execution and fantastic performances, which means the sky’s the limit for us. I think it’s going to be a great film,” he sums up.

On the Fringe is a production by On The Fringe AIE and Panache Productions, which boasts the involvement of Prime Video and RTVE, and which has secured support from Madrid City Council. Vértice Cine has been appointed as its national distributor, while Bankside Films will take care of its international sales.

(Translated from Spanish)