La presa

The story it tells is simple. The action takes place in the north-west of Ireland, in a rural pub where every afternoon the mechanic Jack (Ramon Vila) and his assistant Jim (Oscar Intente) kill time, striking up a conversation with the waiter Brendan (Armand Villen); all three are single. But this afternoon is different: they are expecting a visit from the farmer Finbar (Jordi Coromina), the town's businessman, owner of several houses and a hotel. He will not come alone: he has rented a house from a woman from Dublin, Valerie (Montse Germán), who has decided to settle in the area. And that afternoon they will both visit Brendan's pub. Valerie is an urban woman, attractive, friendly and approachable, and just by arriving she becomes the center of attention of the pub's regulars, who seek, each in their own way, to impress her. Valerie is the prototype woman they could only dream of or see on TV... and she's there, drinking with them! Alcohol-fuelled conversation drifts to castles and fairies, and Jack, Finbar and Jim, spurred on by a fascinated Valerie, tell supernatural tales. But the night takes an unexpected turn when Valerie also tells a ghost story. It is a personal and terrible story, the tragedy that explains why he left Dublin. The honesty and rawness of the story transforms the atmosphere, and the competition between the men for the attention of the newcomer dissolves to make way for a deep empathy and understanding towards Valerie.

Special thanks to Julieta Bermejo, Patrícia Manresa, Sora i Jerome, Manel Dueso, Max Glaenzel, Joan Jorba, Berta Riera, famílies Utzet i Sadurní, Sala Beckett i tot l’equip de la Biblioteca
A production of La Perla 29