The story of two men on different sides of a prison riot -- the inmate leading the rebellion and the young guard trapped in the revolt, who poses as a prisoner in a desperate attempt to survive the ordeal.
Acting
Luis Tosar's Malamadre commands every frame he's in.
Direction
Monzón squeezes unbearable tension from concrete corridors.
Writing
The novel adaptation loses nothing in translation to pure dread.
Director
Daniel Monzón
Alberto Ammann
Juan Oliver
Luis Tosar
Malamadre
Antonio Resines
José Utrilla
Marta Etura
Elena
Manuel Morón
Ernesto Almansa
Carlos Bardem
Apache
Luis Zahera
Releches
Fernando Soto
Armando Nieto
Vicente Romero Sánchez
Tachuela
Manolo Solo
Prison Director
Patxi Bisquert
Jon Arteaga
Josean Bengoetxea
Antxon Elorza 'El Profesor'
Anartz Zuazua
Asier Urruticoechea
Miguel Martín
Pincho
Félix Cubero
Germán
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film dominated the 2010 Goya Awards, Spain's Oscars, winning eight including Best Picture — a rare thriller victory over prestige dramas.
The ETA subplot isn't background noise; it's the invisible architecture explaining why Spanish prisons breed such desperate solidarity. The government's counter-terrorism failures mirror the prison's collapse.
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