In 1996, a young Alejandro Amenábar burst onto the Spanish film scene with ‘Tesis’ (1996), a film that has become a benchmark for psychological thrillers on the national film scene. The plot follows Ángela, an Audiovisual Communication student, played by Ana Torrent, who is writing a thesis on audiovisual violence. During her investigation, Angela finds a tape containing a snuff movie, which leads her into a dangerous and dark investigation.. As she delves deeper into this disturbing underworld, she receives help from Chema, a gore-obsessed classmate, played by Fele Martínez, and Bosco, an attractive but enigmatic Eduardo Noriega. The tension increases as Ángela discovers the involvement of people close to her in these macabre acts, leading her to situations of extreme danger. The film is currently available in the Netflix catalog.
‘Tesis’ was acclaimed both in Spain and internationally thanks to its groundbreaking and disturbing plot. The film won seven Goya awards, of the eight nominations to which it aspired, during the 1997 edition, including the awards in the main categories of Best Film, Best New Director for Alejandro Amenábar and Best Original Screenplay. In addition, Fele Martínez was awarded the award for Best Newcomer, but Ana Torrent fell short of winning the award for Best Leading Actress.
Regarding the technical aspects, ‘Tesis’ stands out for its effective use of the camera and sound to generate an atmosphere of constant concern. Amenábar, in addition to directing, composed the soundtrack, which contributes to increasing the tension in key scenes. Hans Burmann’s cinematography is characterized by its dark tones and its use of lighting to enhance suspense. The cast, led by Ana Torrentdelivers memorable performances that elevate the film’s intensity. Eduardo Noriega and Fele Martínez They perfectly complement Torrent, giving life with guarantees to characters that move between restlessness and discomfort. Furthermore, the film was filmed while its director, Alejandro Amenábar, was finishing his last Audiovisual Communication course at the Complutense University of Madrid, where the film takes place.
Variety’s review echoed its great qualities despite being the director’s debut, stating that “despite some enormous improbabilities, would snuff film producers really hide their master tapes in a university warehouse? – ‘Thesis’ generates genuine tension. He also manages some pointed commentary on the relationship between violence and voyeurism, particularly in a final scene in which the host of a Spanish tabloid warns viewers that they are about to see a clip from a snuff film. The spectators seem to be absorbed and attentive. Amenábar is, at 23 years old, the youngest feature film director in Spain. It will be interesting to see if he can deliver on the promise he shows here.”
