Born to SufferA film

byMiguel Albaladejo

Synopsis

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Flora, 72, is an old maid in a small village who has devoted her whole life to caring for her elderly relatives. Her only sister died when she was very young, leaving her three nieces to bring up. Having grown up, the three left the village and now Flora is apprehensive because the time has come when they will have to look after her and she is afraid they will put her in the old folks' home where one of them works. Her only salvation is Purita, a young woman who in the last few years has helped her to care for her relatives and is the only person Flora thinks of as family.

Cast

Purita ADRIANA OZORESFlora PETRA MARTÍNEZPurita’s mother MARÍA ALFONSA ROSSOMarta MALENA ALTERIOAunt Josefa MARÍA ELENA FLORESSalvadora MARTA FERNÁNDEZ-MUROMaría Pilar SNEHA MISTRI Mariana MARIOLA FUENTESMari Carmen MARI FRANÇ TORRESSinger JORGE CALVOCiriaco RICARD BORRÁSDon Dimas ANTONIO GAMERO

Crew2

Director and writer MIGUEL ALBALADEJO Producer GERARDO HERRERO Film editor PABLO BLANCO Director of photography KIKO DE LA RICA Art director FEDERICO G. CAMBEROProduction manager JOSEAN GÓMEZ Sound director EDUARDO ESQUIDE Casting director CAMILA VALENTINE ISOLA Costume designer SILVIA GARCÍA-BRAVO

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TECHNICAL DETAILS

Colour - 35 mmAspect ratio: 2:35 SCOPESound mix: Dolby SRDLength: 3066 mYear of production: 2009Country: Argentina - SpainRuntime: 112 minutes (1 h 42 min.)Version: original in Spanish

A TORNASOL FILMS - CASTAFIORE FILMS production – BORN TO SUFFER

With the participation of TVE and CIUDAD DE LA LUZ - GENERALITAT VALENCIANA

With the support of ICAA - ICO

Distributed by

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Miguel Albaladejo(director and writer)

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FILMOGRAPHY

AS A DIRECTOR

2009 NACIDAS PARA SUFRIR2006 Volando voy2004 Cachorro (Bear Cub)2002 Rencor (Rancour)2001 El cielo abierto (Ten Days Without Love)1999 Ataque verbal (Verbal Assault)

Manolito Gafotas (Manolito Four Eyes)1998 La primera noche de mi vida (The First Night of My Life)1996 Cachorro (Bearcub) (short film)1994 La vida siempre es corta (short film)

AS A WRITER

2009 NACIDAS PARA SUFRIR (BORN TO SUFFER)2006 Volando voy2004 Cachorro (Bear Cub)2001 El cielo abierto (Ten Days Without Love) (in collaboration

with Elvira Lindo)1999 Ataque verbal (Verbal Assault) (in collaboration with

Elvira Lindo) Manolito Gafotas (Manolito Four Eyes) (based on a story

by Elvira Lindo)1998 La primera noche de mi vida (The First Night of My Life)

(in collaboration with Elvira Lindo)1994 La vida siempre es corta (short film)

Director’s notes

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BORN TO SUFFER is a romantic comedy, but one with a very important difference: the main characters do not know that it is.

Perhaps that is why the end result is more "comedy" than "romantic". But take note, it is romantic too.

The tendency in romantic comedies is for girl to meet boy (or vice versa), girl to lose boy (or vice versa) and, finally, for girl to get boy back (or vice versa).

But here things are not exactly that way. Here it is a case of mistress meets slave, mistress loses slave and, finally, mistress gets slave back (or vice versa).

Although the mistress-slave thing is not exactly that explicit.

And of course, as in the case of the "romantic comedy", neither of them know that either.

In fact, the two main characters in this story, old Flora and her servant Purita, are really just two poor women who have spent their whole life working and making sacrifices for others.

BORN TO SUFFER is also a story that attempts to revive the tradition of the black humour and studies of local customs and manners so typical of 1960s black and white Spanish comedies - those marvellous films of Berlanga's, Ferreri's, Forqué's... (nearly all with scripts by Azcona, naturally), but updating that way of viewing reality to the present time - 2009.

The main character is an old woman who lives in a village, just like Pepe Isbert in some of the films mentioned above. And like him, her strong personality and the inner strength and downright pigheadedness that come with age set her at odds with relatives and neighbours (and even the Catholic church) in the pursuit of her aims, which are actually no more than to find someone who will care for her in the last years of her life without putting her into an old folks' home.

However, contrary to those stories, (perhaps because here we are dealing with women?), underlying BORN TO SUFFER is that romantic comedy structure we spoke of above - although it is very, very much in the background.

The main character's aim is the same as Pepe Isbert's in his films: to assure herself of a little comfort in the last leg of her life using a perhaps slightly bizarre strategy.

But here the case is not one of getting the son-in-law in by the back door or buying a little car to go joy-riding in with your cronies, but something even more difficult: finding someone to love you when you're old and assuring yourself of that person's company.

Miguel Albaladejo

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Visual treatment

When using those old Spanish comedies as a model, but with the considerable difference of presenting BORN TO SUFFER as a film in colour, the effect of the visual treatment of the film can only be the complete opposite of those comedies.

What in those cases was a stark form of realism thanks to the black and white with its wide framings and long shots, here, with a similar approach as regards mise en scène and camera, becomes a film with something out of a story book about it, something timeless and closer to the false kind of study of local customs and manners invented by Fellini for Amarcord. And all thanks to situating the story in a little village like Bocairent with its picture-postcard look, and the chance to build the main sets at the studio, as if at Cinecittà.

The photography went in that direction too. The film is lit with a kind of sense of humour, as if the very uncertainly surrounding the main characters' lives had made their world, even though it belongs to modern times, somehow more reminiscent of the gloomy interiors of Pan's Labyrinth than any other film model with sweet old ladies.

And in contrast, the bright countryside exteriors with the flowers, blue skies and open-air dance nights with fireworks... even the colours of the flowers at the wake in the opening scene.

The actresses

Adriana Ozores

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(Purita)

FILMOGRAPHY (selection)

2009 NACIDAS PARA SUFRIR (BORN TO SUFFER), directed by Miguel Albaladejo

2008 8 citas (8 Dates), directed by Peris Romano and Rodrigo Sorogoyen

2005 El método (The Method), directed by Marcelo PiñeyroHeroína, directed by Gerardo Herrero

2004 Héctor, directed by Gracia Querejeta2003 La suerte dormida (Sleeping Luck), directed by Ángeles

González-Sinde2002 El alquimista impaciente (The Impatient Alchemist),

directed by Patricia FerreiraLa vida de nadie (Nobody’s Life), directed by Eduard Cortés

2001 En la ciudad sin límites (The City of No limits), directed by Antonio Hernández

2000 Plenilunio (Plenilune), directed by Imanol UribeEl palo (The Hold-Up), directed by Eva Lesmes

1999 Manolito Gafotas (Manolito Four Eyes), directed by Miguel AlbaladejoCuando vuelvas a mi lado (By My Side Again), directed by Gracia QuerejetaAtaque verbal (Verbal Assault), directed by Miguel AlbaladejoPídele cuentas al Rey, directed by José Antonio Quirós

1998 La hora de los valientes (A Time for Defiance), directed by Antonio Mercero

1997 La primera noche de mi vida (The First Night of My Life), directed by Miguel Albaladejo

1996 Niño Nadie, directed by José Luis Borau¿De qué se ríen las mujeres? (What Makes Women Laugh?), directed by Joaquín Oristrell

1982 Cristóbal Colón, directed by Mariano Ozores1981 Los chulos, directed by Mariano Ozores

Brujas mágicas, directed by Mariano Ozores1980 Es peligroso casarse a los 60, directed by Mariano Ozores

El liguero mágico, directed by Mariano Ozores1979 Los energéticos, directed by Mariano OzoresPetra Martínez(Flora)

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FILMOGRAPHY (selection)

2009 NACIDAS PARA SUFRIR (BORN TO SUFFER), directed by Miguel Albaladejo

2007 La soledad (Solitary Fragments), directed by Jaime Rosales

2006 La noche de los girasoles (The Night of the Sunflowers), directed by Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo

2004 Escuela de seducción, directed by Javier Balaguer La mala educación (Bad Education), directed by Pedro Almodóvar

2003 Noviembre (November), directed by Achero Mañas2001 Sólo mía (Mine Alone), directed by Javier Balaguer

María Alfonsa Rosso(Purita’s mother)

FILMOGRAPHY (selection)

2009 NACIDAS PARA SUFRIR (BORN TO SUFFER), directed by Miguel Albaladejo

2008 Una palabra tuya (One Word from You), directed by Ángeles González-Sinde

2007 Déjate caer, directed by Jesús Ponce2004 Atún y chocolate, directed by Pablo Carbonell2003 Al sur de Granada (South from Granada), directed by

Fernando Colomo2002 Poniente, directed by Chus Gutiérrez

Malena Alterio(Marta)

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FILMOGRAPHY (selection)

2009 NACIDAS PARA SUFRIR (BORN TO SUFFER), directed by Miguel AlbaladejoAl final del camino (Road to Santiago), directed by Roberto Santiago

2008 Una palabra tuya (One Word from You), directed by Ángeles González-Sinde

2007 La torre de Suso, directed by Tom FernándezDías de cine, directed by David SerranoMiguel y William (Miguel and William), directed by Inés París

2005 Semen, una historia de amor (Semen, a Love Sample), directed by Daniela Fejerman and Inés París

2003 Las voces de la noche (Voices in the Night), directed by Salvador García RuizTorremolinos 73, directed by Pablo Berger

2001 El palo (The Hold-Up), directed by Eva Lesmes

Mariola Fuentes(Mariana)

FILMOGRAPHY (selection)

2009 NACIDAS PARA SUFRIR (BORN TO SUFFER), directed by Miguel AlbaladejoLos abrazos rotos (Broken Embraces), directed by Pedro Almodóvar

2007 Chuecatown (Boystown), directed by Juan Flahn2006 Volando voy, directed by Miguel Albaladejo2005 La vida perra de Juanita Narboni, directed by Farida

Belyazid2003 Trileros, directed by Antonio del Real

Dos tipos duros (Two Tough Guys), directed by Juan Martínez Moreno

2002 Poniente, directed by Chus GutiérrezHable con ella (Talk to Her), directed by Pedro Almodóvar

2001 El cielo abierto (Ten Days Without Love), directed by Miguel Albaladejo

2000 Sexo por compasión (Compassionate Sex), de Laura Mañá1999 Manolito Gafotas (Manolito Four Eyes), de Miguel

Albaladejo

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1998 La primera noche de mi vida (The First Night of My Life), directed by Miguel AlbaladejoEl grito en el cielo (Shout Out), directed by Dunia Ayaso and Félix Sabroso

1997 Carne trémula (Live Flesh), directed by Pedro Almodóvar¿De qué se ríen las mujeres? (What Makes Women Laugh?), directed by Joaquín OristrellPerdona bonita, pero Lucas me quería a mí (Excuse Me Darling, But Lucas Loved Me), directed by Dunia Ayaso and Félix Sabroso

The producers

TORNASOL FILMS

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(selection) 2009 Looking for Eric (Buscando a Eric), de Ken Loach

Triage, de Danis TanovicCastillos de cartón, de Salvador García RuizNACIDAS PARA SUFRIR, de Miguel AlbaladejoEl secreto de sus ojos, de Juan José CampanellaTetro, de Francis Ford CoppolaPaisito, de Ana Díez7 minutos, de Daniela FejermanUn buen hombre, de Juan Martínez MorenoMentiras y gordas, Alfonso Albacete y David Menkes

2008  Que parezca un accidente, de Gerardo HerreroLos crímenes de Oxford, de Álex de la IglesiaLa buena vida, de Andrés Wood

2007      It’s A Free World (En un mundo libre...), de Ken LoachCiudad en celo, de Hernán GaffetLa vida interior de Martin Frost, de Paul Auster

2006                Los aires difíciles, de Gerardo HerreroLa educación de las hadas, de José Luis CuerdaThe Wind That Shakes The Barley (El viento que agita la cebada), de Ken Loach

2005                El penalti más largo del mundo, de Roberto SantiagoHeroína, de Gerardo HerreroEl aura, de Fabián BielinskyEl método, de Marcelo Piñeyro

2004 La vida que te espera, de Manuel Gutiérrez AragónMachuca, de Andrés WoodInconscientes, de Joaquín OristrellLuna de Avellaneda, de Juan José CampanellaAe Fond Kiss (Sólo un beso), de Ken Loach

2003 Aunque estés lejos, de Juan Carlos TabíoEl misterio Galíndez, de Gerardo Herrero

2002                El alquimista impaciente, de Patricia FerreiraLugares comunes, de Adolfo Aristarain

2001                El hijo de la novia, de Juan José CampanellaSin noticias de Dios, de Agustín Díaz Yanes

2000 El corazón del guerrero, de Daniel MonzónPantaleón y las visitadoras, de Francisco LombardiLista de espera, de Juan Carlos TabíoLas razones de mis amigos, de Gerardo HerreroEl otro barrio, de Salvador García

1999 El Coronel no tiene quien le escriba, de Arturo Ripstein1998 My Name is Joe (Mi nombre es Joe), de Ken Loach

Mensaka, de Salvador García1997 Territorio comanche, de Gerardo Herrero

Martín (Hache), de Adolfo AristarainCosas que dejé en La Habana, de Manuel Gutiérrez AragónLa camarera del Titanic, de Bigas Luna

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1996 Éxtasis, de Mariano Barroso1995 Land and Freedom (Tierra y Libertad), de Ken Loach

Guantanamera, de Tomás Gutiérrez Alea y Juan Carlos Tabío

1988 La boca del lobo, de Francisco Lombardi 

En posproducción

Las viudas de los jueves, de Marcelo PiñeyroEl corredor nocturno, de Gerardo HerreroEl diario de Carlota, de Juan Manuel CarrascoTodas las canciones hablan de mí, de Jonás Trueba

CASTAFIORE FILMSCon sede en Alicante, se constituyó en julio de 2007 y pertenece a la Asociación de Productores Valencianos (PAV).

FILMOGRAFÍA

Castillos de cartón, de Salvador García RuizTriage, de Danis TanovicNACIDAS PARA SUFRIR, de Miguel AlbaladejoTetro, de Francis Ford Coppola Siete minutos, de Daniela FejermanUn buen hombre, de Juan Martínez MorenoMentiras y gordas, de Alfonso Albacete y David Menkes

En posproducción

El corredor nocturno, de Gerardo Herrero Las viudas de los jueves, de Marcelo Piñeyro

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