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El buen patrón

Award-winning tragicomedy about a factory owner who – in the hunt for a business award – feverishly tries to solve all the problems with his employees.

Time & Tickets

Julio Blanco is delighted. His factory Basculas Blanco, which manufactures industrial scales, is one of the finalists in a regional award for Business Excellence. One of these days, the factory will be visited by an inspection committee, and Blanco wants to present a perfect picture. But cracks are appearing on the smooth surface. José, a disgruntled former employee, starts camping outside the factory gates with his two children, a bunch of hand-made banners and a bullhorn. Meanwhile, Blanco ill-advisedly pulls some strings for the son of his handyman Fortuna, who is arrested for a racist attack. On top of that, he’s getting a little too close to young female intern Liliana.  

EL BUEN PATRÓN is a dark and often very funny satire by León de Aranoa. The film was awarded six Goya’s (the Spanish Academy Awards), including those for best film, best director, best original screenplay, and best lead actor (Javier Bardem).

Fernando León de Aranoa, Spain, 2021, 120 min. Spanish spoken, Dutch subtitles. With Javier Bardem, Manolo Solo, Almudena Amor, Óscar de la Fuente, Sonia Almarcha, Fernando Albizu.