| Love in Self Defense | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Spanish | Amor en defensa propia |
| Directed by | Rafa Russo |
| Screenplay by | Rafa Russo |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Daniel Aranyó |
| Edited by | Fernando Guariniello |
| Music by | Rafa Russo |
| Production companies | |
| Distributed by | United International Pictures |
| Release dates |
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| Country | Spain |
| Language | Spanish |
Love in Self Defense (Spanish: Amor en defensa propia) is a 2006 Spanish romantic drama film written, directed, and scored by Rafa Russo in his directorial feature debut. It stars Ana Fernández and Gustavo Garzón.
Plot
Set in Spain's eastern coast, the plot follows the twisted relationship established between an idle woman claiming to be a painter (Adriana) and an Argentinian former football player turned scammer (Rubén) upon their meeting in a bar.
Cast
- Ana Fernández as Adriana
- Gustavo Garzón as Rubén
- Andrés Gertrúdix as Damián
- Manuel Morón [es] as Ernesto
- Ginés García Millán as Basilio
- Carlos Kaniowsky
- Bárbara Goenaga
- Pere Arquillué [ca]
Production
The film was produced by Mediapro alongside NBCUniversal Global Networks, and it had the participation of Antena 3. It was shot in the provinces of Barcelona and Tarragona.
Release
The film premiered in competition at the 9th Málaga Film Festival in March 2006. Distributed by UIP, it was theatrically released in Spain on 9 June 2006.
Reception
Jonathan Holland of Variety assessed that the "absorbing, slow-burning" film stars out "like a scam movie", "quickly mutating into something far more distinctive and emotionally complex", shining through its "commitment to its offbeat premise and its emotional truth".
Casimiro Torreiro of El País considered that the film abounds in situations that are very difficult to capture on film, failing at "building up plausible psychologies for its characters".
See also
References
- ^ Holland, Jonathan (11 April 2006). "Love in Self Defense". Variety.
- ^ Cendros, Teresa (9 June 2006). "Russo debuta con una 'road movie' emocional". El País.
- ^ "Amor en defensa propia (2006)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Amor en defensa propia". Fotogramas. 29 May 2008.
- Pérez, Fernando J. (24 March 2006). "Rafa Russo estrena en Málaga 'Amor en defensa propia'". El País.
- Torreiro, Casimiro (9 June 2006). "A la deriva". El País.