MADRID, Spain.
After nearly two months of intense work, on May 31 in Guadix, Granada, shooting of POVEDA film, which is based on the life of St. Pedro Poveda, ended.
Although this corresponds to the first part of the movie, the shooting was completed in the natural environment of Guadix, particularly in the neighborhood of the Caves, where young Poveda carried out his work of evangelization, education and human development in the early twentieth century. Thanks to the cooperation of members of the Teresian Association (TA) in that city, the staff of Padre Poveda School, Bishop Ginés García Beltrán, and the pastor of the New Church, Fr. Manuel Amezcua, scenes have been filmed with much realism. The city of Guadix and the Neighborhood of the Caves have also given their support.
Earlier, on May 10-12, filming was done in Madrid at the Plaza de Oriente, Sabatini Gardens, outside Congress andnother locations. On April 20-21 shooting took place in Covadonga, where the Abbot, Fr. Juan José Tuñón Escalada, the Canons, and members of the TA provided much support.
The film, directed by Pablo Moreno and supported by an excellent technical team of Contracorriente Producciones and Goya Producciones, features a cast of highly artistic and professional quality led by Raul Escudero and Elena Furiase, who give life to the characters of the story. Additionally, many secondary characters provide realism and freshness to the film.
Also, some scenes were filmed in Salamanca and Ciudad Rodrigo. It is in the latter city where Contracorriente Productions has its headquarters and where some interior scenarios were built. At each site civil authorities, church, neighbors and individuals who have provided permits, spaces, objects, etc. have been most cooperative.
The Department of Information of the Teresian Association has accompanied most of the shooting and has witnessed the professional and human qualities of technicians, actors, actresses, support members, etc., under the magnificent direction of Pablo Moreno. Their working style certainly fits in well with the story they tell.
In an interview with the online newspaper El accitano (Guadix) Pablo Moreno said: "We accepted the assignment (making the film) after seeing the magnificent story of the life of Poveda. Unknown to us, we soon understood it had great relevance. This is one of those stories that touch us from the beginning, so we wanted to make a movie that is in accord with the stature of Father Poveda."
He added: "For us Father Poveda is a figure that has a lot ... Aside from being a great educator and trying to make great efforts to modernize education in twentieth century Spain, and besides his sensitivity to poverty –one only has to see everything he did in Guadix with people living in caves- he has interested us a lot and we think his efforts to promote women are very relevant. He tries to respond to the enormous educational problems of Spain at that time with such high percentages of illiteracy, especially of women that exceeded 50%. He decided to found schools to help women who wanted to study ... In a very few years these schools proliferated and educated women began to emerge reaching high levels of education...”
In the Radio program El Espejo (Radio Cope-Guadix) the film's director spoke more about Poveda and highlighted "the humility, the incredible ability he had, the vision that led him to get into a controversial issue (at the time) as was education. He is a great educator and a great reformer of the educational system and he is also a modern feminist that gives women their rightful place in society..." Referring to the timeliness of the film, Pablo Moreno praises Poveda as "a great conciliator with a great capacity for dialogue."
Soon the assembly and postproduction work will begin. The film's release date has not been determined yet; it depends on factors such as availability of movie theaters, marketing channels, and others. However, the desire is that it may be shown in the last months of the current year 2015.
At the upcoming feast of St. Pedro Poveda on July 28, a preview of the performance will be presented in Los Negrales and a dialogue with the director, some actors, and members of the production will take place.
POVEDA film is a story based on the life of Pedro Poveda, priest, Spanish educator, and founder of the Teresian Association (Linares, 1874 - Madrid, 1936). Pope John Paul II canonized him in 2003. In the film's screenplay significant moments in the life of Poveda are recreated, some with historical figures and some are created with the aim of advancing the story and providing symbolic value. In the shooting, many aspects of his context were taken into account such as costumes, makeup, and spaces, as well as the inner profiles of each of the characters.
The producers who are developing this project, promoted by the Department of Information of the TA, are:
GOYA Productions is an audiovisual producer and distributor founded in 2000. It is specialized in historical, cultural and religious issues. Their series and programs have been broadcast on several TV channels around the world, some of them translated into fourteen languages. Among its latest creations are documentaries are those dedicated to Popes Francis, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Paul VI.
Three Columns Entertainment (Contracorriente Producciones) has ten years of experience in the realization of feature films and short films, promotional documentaries, television spots, and advertising productions. Their latest film, "A banned God," was screened in theaters in Spain, Italy, Belgium, Ecuador, and Brazil. It has been part of film festivals in European and America, and has won numerous awards, including the award for Best Film at the V International Catholic Film Festival.
Links
Interview with Pablo Moreno, video, El accitano (Guadix)
Interview with Pablo Moreno for El Espejo, radio, Guadix (audio)
Interview with Raul Escudero and Javier Bermejo, video, El accitano (Guadix)
Pictures of the shooting in Madrid and Covadonga
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