Movies: The Good Luck (2025) by Gracia Querejeta: Fleeing the Past in Empty Spain

A Psychological Drama of Escape and New Beginnings La buena suerte (The Good Luck) is a Spanish drama film with small touches of thriller and romance, with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. Directed by Gracia Querejeta and based on the novel by Rosa Montero, the film tells the story of Pablo (Hugo Silva), a wealthy, renowned architect who abruptly abandons his life. He gets off a train in a dilapidated, somewhat abandoned town—part of what is known as 'Empty Spain'—buys a ramshackle apartment by the tracks, and chooses to live anonymously. The film explores the mystery of what Pablo is running from and follows his new life as he meets the town's eccentric residents, particularly his neighbor Raluca (Megan Montaner), a resilient woman who lives by trusting in luck.

Why to watch this movie: A Character-Driven Story with Intimate Intrigue

• A Mystery of Self-Discovery: The central premise is an intriguing psychological puzzle: What drove a successful man to abandon his identity and seek refuge in a desolate town? The film promises an intimate exploration of a character running from a dark past and seeking a new beginning.

• A Blend of Genres: The narrative cleverly mixes a psychological thriller tone with a heartfelt intimate love story and a social drama set in the unique context of rural decline, often referred to as 'Empty Spain.'

• Strong Lead Performances: The film features two of Spain's currently popular television and film stars, Hugo Silva and Megan Montaner. Their performances as a man with a dark past and an "optimistic" woman who opens him up to life are central to the film's emotional success.

• Directed by a Noted Auteur: The film is directed by Gracia Querejeta, an established Spanish director known for her formal style and focus on brooding, dramatic themes and social issues, lending the film a layer of artistic scholarship.

Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/es/pelicula/la-buena-suerte-2025 (Spain)

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33325820/

Link Review: https://variety.com/2025/film/global/latido-gracia-querejeta-the-good-luck-malaga-1236331214/

About movie: https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt33325820/?rf=cons_tt_btf_cc&ref_=cons_tt_btf_cc

What Trend is followed?: The Spanish Psychological Drama La buena suerte follows the contemporary trend of the "Spanish Psychological Drama," often adapted from popular novels, which uses intimate character studies and a strong sense of atmosphere to explore themes of dark secrets, guilt, and the search for redemption.

• The Mystery of the Protagonist: The film centers on a protagonist who has an immediate, unexplained problem (fleeing something or himself), a hallmark of the psychological thriller trend that hooks the audience through an internal mystery.

• Exploring Rural Decline: The setting in 'Empty Spain' (a social term referring to depopulated rural areas) taps into a popular trend in Spanish cinema to explore the social and emotional landscape of communities grappling with abandonment and decline.

• Literary Adaptation: The film is a direct adaptation of a novel by Rosa Montero, aligning with a trend of successful Spanish literary works being transformed into high-profile dramatic films.

Director's Vision: The Brooding Themes of the Marginalized

• Formal and Stylistic Scholarship: Director Gracia Querejeta's vision is realized in her typical "formal and stylistic scholarship." She uses the setting not just as a backdrop but as a character that reflects the protagonist's inner emptiness and attempts at repair.

• Intimate Emotional Story: Querejeta prioritizes the sensitive exploration of an intimate love story that deals with complex issues, including hints of "philo-parental violence," without losing its sense of dramatic excitement.

• Focus on Provocative Social Issues: True to her style, Querejeta aims to make films about the "underprivileged" and deal with "provoking issues." The town's residents, like the crippled old man Felipe (Miguel Rellán) and the suspicious Benito (Ismael Martínez), contribute to this portrait of a marginalized community.

Themes: Escape, Redemption, and The Power of Luck

• Escape and Identity: The central theme is the attempt to escape one's past and identity. Pablo's drastic decision to live anonymously explores the idea of running away from a "sad existence" and trying to forget one's former self.

• The Search for Redemption: Pablo's act of settling in a "dilapidated" apartment he plans to "fix up" is a metaphor for his attempt at personal redemption. His desire to build a new life is a quiet quest to overcome the "dark past."

• The Role of Luck and Optimism: The film contrasts Pablo's despair with Raluca's optimism and belief in "luck." Their relationship explores how human connection and a willingness to trust in a positive future can be the key to overcoming personal darkness.

Key success factors: High-Profile Leads and Literary Source

• Star Power: The casting of highly popular television actors Hugo Silva and Megan Montaner is a major success factor that ensures significant public and media interest in the film.

• Acclaimed Source Material: The film’s basis in a novel by renowned Spanish writer Rosa Montero lends it prestige and a proven foundation of compelling, well-developed characters and themes.

• A Veteran Director: Gracia Querejeta's established reputation, which includes winning various Goya Awards, provides a guarantee of a professional and dramatically resonant film.

Awards and Nominations: Early Festival Recognition The film has received 1 nomination total, specifically a Golden Biznaga Nomination for Best Spanish Film at the Málaga Film Festival, confirming its status as a high-profile Spanish film debut.

Critics reception: No Major Critic Consensus Yet La buena suerte has not yet received a consensus from major critics, but early reviews suggest it is a competent and engaging character-driven drama.

• ma-cortes (Featured Review): Describes the film as "A drama with small touches of thriller, along with intrigue and romance," rating it 6.5/10 and calling it "Better than average." The review praises the adequate cinematography and Hugo Silva and Megan Montaner's "nice acting."

Reviews: No Published Reviews Available Yet

• IMDb Users: The film has a single user rating of 5.7/10 and one featured review, which is positive but moderate.

• Critic Reviews: With only 2 critic reviews visible, a formal critical opinion has not yet solidified.

What Movie Trend film is following: The Socially Conscious Character Study The film follows the trend of the "socially conscious character study," which uses the story of an individual's personal crisis (Pablo’s escape) to draw attention to a broader societal issue, in this case, the abandonment and social decay of "Empty Spain" communities.

What Big Social Trend is following: The Search for a Digital Detox The film taps into the social trend of the search for a digital detox and authentic living. Pablo's decision to abandon his high-profile, professional life in Madrid for an anonymous existence in a rundown town reflects a contemporary desire to escape the pressures of modern life, status, and celebrity to find a simpler, more meaningful existence.

Final Verdict: A Thought-Provoking and Well-Acted Spanish Drama La buena suerte is a compelling and well-acted Spanish drama that successfully blends psychological intrigue with a heartfelt story of finding hope in unexpected places. Director Gracia Querejeta's experienced hand and the strong chemistry between leads Hugo Silva and Megan Montaner make it an engaging watch. While its pacing may be deliberate, the film's timely social commentary and intimate emotional journey make it a rewarding experience for fans of Spanish cinema and character-driven narratives.