Flying Saucers (Spanish: Platillos volantes)[1][2] is a 2003 Spanish science fiction comedy-drama film directed by Óscar Aibar [es] from a screenplay by Aibar and Jorge Guerricaechevarría which stars Ángel de Andrés López and Jordi Vilches. The plot premise is based on real events.[3]

Flying Saucers
Theatrical release poster
SpanishPlatillos volantes
Directed byÓscar Aibar
Screenplay by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMario Montero
Edited byFernando Pardo
Music byJavier Navarrete
Production
companies
  • Didac Films
  • Enrique Cerezo PC
Distributed byWarner Sogefilms
Release date
  • 7 November 2003 (2003-11-07)
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

Plot

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In 1972 Spain, two decapitated corpses are found on the train tracks near Terrassa together with a note reading "The extraterrestrials are calling us. We belong to infinity". The plot goes on to explore the stories of the deceased, following textile workers Juan and José, with their lives falling apart upon developing a keen interest on UFO sightings.[4][5]

Cast

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Production

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The film is a Didac Films and Enrique Cerezo PC production.[7] Shooting locations included Terrassa.[3]

Release

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Distributed by Warner Sogefilms,[8] the film was released theatrically in Spain on 7 November 2003.

Reception

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Fernando Méndez-Leite of Fotogramas rated the film 4 out of 5 stars highlighting "the mastery of dramatic materials in an impeccable script" as the best thing about the film.[9]

Casimiro Torreiro of El País deemed the film to be "a very well-written film, and even better put into images" yet featuring an "absurd last sequence" throwing away the previous work.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Spain Production Listings - Sept 9 2003". ScreenDaily. 9 September 2003.
  2. ^ Martín & Moreno 2017, p. 339.
  3. ^ a b "La película". Diari de Terrassa. 21 August 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Torreiro, Casimiro (7 November 2003). "Extraños visionarios". El País.
  5. ^ "'Platillos volantes', en 'Historia de nuestro cine'". Diez Minutos. 2 November 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Flying Saucers". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  7. ^ Martín, Sara; Moreno, Fernando Ángel (2017). "A Bibliography and Filmography of Spanish SF". Science Fiction Studies. 44 (2): 339. doi:10.5621/sciefictstud.44.2.0331.
  8. ^ "El próximo 7 de noviembre se estrena en España 'Platillos volantes'". Cine y Tele. 31 October 2003.
  9. ^ Méndez-Leite, Fernando (29 May 2008). "Platillos volantes". Fotogramas.