Irati

Azken partida (2022). Spain. Igor Salutregi. 9 min

Ekhi, a 10-year-old boy, heads out to play football with his friends, like every day. But this isn’t just any old day. The presence of a mysterious young girl will lead Ekhi along an unknown path that will change his life forever.

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Irati (2022). Spain-France. 114 min

• Direction: Paul Urkijo Alijo.
• Production: Iñaki Burutxaga, Joanjo Landa, Paul Urkijo Alijo / Irati Zinema AIE (Bainet, Ikusgarri Films, Kilima Media), La Fidèle Production.
• Screenplay: Paul Urkijo Alijo.
• Photography: Gorka Gómez Andreu.
• Music: Aránzazu Calleja, Maite Arroitajauregi.
• Edition: Elena Ruiz.
• Cast: Eneko Sagardoy, Edurne Azkarate, Itziar Ituño, Iñigo Aranbarri, Elena Uriz, Kepa Errasti, Ramón Agirre, Nagore Aranburu, Iñaki Beraetxe, Josu Eguskiza.

Earthy. Dark. Primitive. Palaeolithic, Primaeval. Primordial. Historical. Fantastical. Mythological. These are the words that Paul Urkijo has been using to describe his intentions in his second feature-length film, an adaptation of the comic El ciclo de Irati by Juan Luis Landa and Jon Muñoz Otaegui, published by Glénat. The soundtrack (by Maite Arroitajauregi and Aránzazu Calleja, who else?) features 7th-century instruments (sackbut, serpent...). On screen, blood pacts, pagan gods, new gods, bush girls, almost Arthurian warriors. And passing across the screen, caves and woodlands, Eneko Sagardoy, Edurne Azkarate… Lighting/darkening it all: Gorka Gómez Andreu, of Errementari (2017) and Chaika (2012) fame.