The Big House (2008)

Run Time - 93 min.  |   Countries - Spain  |  
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Synopsis by Mark Deming

A band of rebels against society are quietly co-opted by local politicians in this comedy from director Pau Martinez. A large crew of self-styled anarchists has taken over an abandoned mansion and turned it into a squat for artists and activists. However, local authorities have other plans for the building; they want to refurbish the house and turn it into a community center, and Alfredo (Fele Martinez), a lawyer who has recently landed a job with the city, is given the unenviable assignment of clearing out the current residents. Alfredo isn't sure how to get people with little regard for the law to leave the house, and through his efforts he becomes friendly with several of the residents, including first-among-equals Ventura (Marc Rodriquez), professional student McGuffin (Andrew Tarbet), graphic designer Marc (Jordi Rico), and Eva (Inma Cuesta), a painter who refuses to do anything so crass as sell her work. Alfredo offers several members of the squat positions with the new center's administrative team, which seems to do the trick, until his infatuation with Eva is compromised by learning her big secret -- her dad is a high-ranking member of the city council. El Kaseron (aka The Big House) was an official selection at the 2008 Montreal World Film Festival.