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At the end of the 90s, at the age of 25, Nevenka Fernández was elected municipal councilor by the charismatic and popular Ismael Álvarez, mayor of Ponferrada. Manipulated and harassed by the mayor for months, Nevenka’s descent into hell begins. To get rid of him, she decides to denounce his actions and sue him.
Inspired by real events, The Nevenka Affair reveals the first case of political #MeToo in Spain.
The Nevenka Affair, out in theaters this Wednesday, focuses on a little-known case in France that had a major impact on Spain. This is not a documentary, but a feature film based on real events. Only a few details have been changed to adapt to cinema codes.
Display of control and manipulation mechanisms
Why The Nevenka Affair is a must-see movie? Because he cares about a pioneer in the fight against sexist and sexual violence, whose struggle resonates with many today with #MeToo.
Nevenka Fernández, a municipal councilor in a Spanish town, has been the victim of harassment and manipulation for months by her boss, the town’s mayor. Mechanisms of control and manipulation, feelings of oppression and isolation are directly visible in the film. Alone against everyone.
“The specific behavior of an abusive relationship is always similarDirector and screenwriter of the film Isiar Bolain points out. But there is one element in this story that I found very different and interesting: it’s the setting.
A bully may do this because the people around them allow it. There is a sense of impunity that helps the perpetrator and silences the victim.
At one point, Nevenka thinks she is going crazy. When abuse happens in front of so many people and there is no reaction, did it really happen? He even has doubts. I had read that this type of attack is like a silent murder. It leaves no trace.“
She was presented as an ambitious young woman and perhaps a storyteller.
As we see in the film, which decides to tell the facts chronologically, Nevenka Fernandes decides after months of struggle to denounce this man, in a climate of distrust.
This is also one of the strong points of this film, namely the media treatment of this type of case in the context of the time, the early 2000s.
“In the 2000s, the media coverage of the Nevenka Fernandez case was as interesting as it was terrifying. I was 30 years old and I remember following this novel from afarthe film director recalls.
Nevenka was not well received in the media. There was a lot of mistrust around him. She was presented as an ambitious young woman and perhaps a storyteller, which did not endear her to the public. He won his case, but not public opinion.
The manipulation and mental destruction that abuse causes was not as well known then as it is today.
The manipulation and mental destruction that abuse causes was not as well known then as it is today. Everyone wondered why Nevenka did not get away from the mayor. There was suspicion and misogyny towards him, which led to his deep isolation.“
The Nevenka Affair is also a trial film in part two and covers all the facts to date, with cards revealing the outcome and twists. The feature film also finds strength in this experimental part.
Nevenka Affair was selected for the San Sebastián Festival last September and its director had the honor of a retrospective at the Lumer Festival. The movie is currently in theaters. Note that there is also a documentary series offered by Netflix called Nevenka Fernandez Breaks the Silence.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
