The Wolf (Spanish: El Lobo) is a 2004 Spanish drama biographical film directed by Miguel Courtois. It stars Eduardo Noriega as the title character and José Coronado alongside Mélanie Doutey, Silvia Abascal, Santiago Ramos, and Jorge Sanz.

The Wolf
Theatrical release poster
SpanishEl Lobo
Directed byMiguel Courtois
Written byAntonio Onetti
Starring
Release date
  • 5 November 2004 (2004-Nov-05) (Spain)
Running time
134 minutes
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

Plot

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The film is based on the life of Mikel Lejarza (alias 'El Lobo'), an agent of the Spanish intelligence service in the early 1970s. During the last rales of the Francoist dictatorship, Lejarza infiltrated ETA, a paramilitary group seeking independence for the Basque Country.

He obstructed plans for a major prison breakout and a campaign of attacks. The secret services tried to demobilise him when he became less useful. However, he pursued his mission nevertheless, which became the most successful government initiative against ETA. Information he provided was responsible for the capture or killing of a quarter of ETA members, including some of its 'Special Forces' members and leaders. He destabilized the organization when it was a potential justification for conservatives to seize power and stop the democratisation process.

ETA sentenced him to death and posted his pictures throughout the Basque Country, in the hope of someone reporting his whereabouts. Mikel changed his name and face and has lived under an assumed identity ever since.

Cast

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Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2005 19th Goya Awards Best Actor Eduardo Noriega Nominated [1]
Best Supporting Actress Silvia Abascal Nominated
Best Production Supervision Cristina Zumárraga, Miguel Torrente Nominated
Best Editing Guillermo S. Maldonado Won
Best Special Effects Jesús Pascual, Ramón Lorenzo, Reyes Abades Won
14th Actors and Actresses Union Awards Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role Silvia Abascal Nominated [2][3]
Best Film Actor in a Minor Role Santiago Ramos Nominated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "El Lobo". premiosgoya.com. Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  2. ^ "'Mar adentro' también acapara las candidaturas de la Unión de Actores". elmundo.es. 15 March 2005.
  3. ^ "'Aquí no hay quien viva', 'Mar adentro' y 'Yo Claudio' vencen en los Premios de la Unión de Actores". El Mundo. 21 June 2005.
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