The Beasts

Directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen
Starring Marina Foïs, Denis Ménochet, Luis Zahera

Based on real-life events, Denis Ménochet and Marina Foïs play a married couple whose dream of moving to the countryside gradually turns into a living nightmare.

Antoine and Olga have moved to a small village in Galicia, in Spain’s northwest. They support themselves by growing and selling their own vegetables, and in their spare time repair and refurbish abandoned cottages in the neighbourhood. It’s a quiet and peaceful existence. At least it was, until the neighbourhood are approached by Norwegian developers who are willing to pay out the residents of the neighbourhood to build a wind farm on their property.

Antoine and Olga are the only residents who voted against the development, much to the annoyance of two local brothers, who have grown piqued by the couple’s presence in the community. It’s an opportunity that many locals would benefit from financially. But it doesn’t fit with Antoine and Olga’s vision of their perfect country life. From this disagreement, tensions and tempers rise, pushing the situation to the point of no return.

This film season is in partnership with the Department of Cultures and Languages at the University of Chester.