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The Navarrese actress stars in 'La virgen de Agosto', a melodrama with touches of comedy about a girl who rethinks her life through the streets of Madrid

In search of herself, Eva decides to take a decision in August that is not usual: stay in Madrid, at the home of an acquaintance, to walk, observe and interact with those who pass through the streets of a city at parties . An experience that will change her life and her way of facing the world to this 33-year-old girl and that will give rise to unpublished situations for her as a result of improvisation.

Itsaso Arana (Tafalla, 1985) plays the protagonist of The Virgin of August , a film directed by Jonás Trueba ( All songs speak of me ) in which this actress, seen in films such as The High Pressures and Cliff and series like The Don de Alba or Vergüenza , has written the script with Trueba.

How have you combined to be the protagonist of the film and, at the same time, co-writer with Jonás Trueba? It is true that it is easier to enter the universe of a story if you have written it, as has been the case. It has been a curious exercise but I have felt very privileged. Writing has a lot to do with acting, because you have to put yourself in the situation that the characters live. And the writing continued until the last moment because there were many moments in which we let life collapse.How did this project come about? It is the result of a previous experience that led me to participate in The Reconquest , the previous feature film by Jonás Trueba. For me, acting is not only to play a role, but to understand the world that unfolds before you. It came naturally and we made this project together from the beginning. I came from acting in theater, as well as writing and writing my own works. But I had not written anything before for the cinema. I would not have dared if it had not been the hand of Jonah and those who work at the production company Los ilusos . It seemed like a privilege to be an actress in The Reconquest , so imagine having been able to write this movie with him. It has been a very impressive integral. Weren't you worried about appearing in all the scenes? If true. I don't think anything in this story is told outside of what happens to Eva. It has been a great responsibility but also an honor. In the end, I had doubts about seeing myself so much and I thought if the viewer would not like me (laughs). But it was not just a decision of mine, but of many people involved. I try to think that it has been a joint responsibility ...- Although they are not called the same, your character has many similarities with that of The Reconquest ... Yes, it is nice that Manuela, the character of that film, and Eva share many things, starting because they have an ex-boyfriend played by Francesco Carril. They are hollows that can be filled and make up a beautiful symphony. I like to think about my favorite actors through the work they do and their characters. And not just for a certain movie.

Trailer for 'The Virgin of August'

Do you think this film can encourage someone to do something different with their life? What Eva proposes is simple, but it seems that we were far from reaching it: take some time for reflection. That summer is to escape but also to think if life is as we thought. She tries to be a little more spontaneous, more open and, above all, kind. Being good seems not to be taken now and is out of fashion. If you look, in cinema it is not usual to find characters that are kind. Eva tries to be a little better than she was. And he listens and lets talk. And, for that reason, he stays in Madrid, in full parties ... It has to do with contemplating your city with tourist eyes, but also with seeing your own life in amazement, without taking for granted what You were until now. She tries to rethink things from scratch and become a little more innocent. I like movies that inspire me to live a little better. I know it is an ambitious goal, but I hope I can serve those who see The Virgin of August . It would be a little miracle ... And why do you think almost nobody makes the same decision as Eva? Because it is a brave decision but very accessible. Sometimes I think we are very closed to what we have and it is hard for us to value what we have. Madrid is a city that can be very exciting and has a great cultural offer. I hope that the film manages to portray that the people of Madrid are very hospitable and that you can live great everyday adventures in which, if you are open to it, you know where you start but not where you end. And someone who is not from here says so. It's always good to let go a few days, retire and rethink if your life is what you wanted it to be. And, eye, you can be brave in Madrid, in any other big city or in a remote village. In the times we live in, where everything is lived so fast and it takes so much to rethink things, stop for a moment, think and not take life for granted is a very brave decision. There is a magical component within a story very close to the earth . I think summer is an ideal time to perceive things differently. And in which small magical situations can occur. Somehow, Eva tries to be open to a little miracle. Sometimes they happen and you just have to be attentive ...

Eva (Itsaso Arana), with a new friend (Vito Sanz) with whom he walks along the Manzanares River.

In this story, motherhood is a recurring theme ... I know it is a thorny issue and I recognize that I do not have a specific opinion on the issue of having children or not in real life. With respect to the tape, that Eva is 33 years old leads to think that any age is complex. Already 15, 30 or 60 years old ... For a woman, spending thirty years involves raising the issue of motherhood and that's there. Nothing in this movie is about an idealized way. The good thing is that you can believe that the characters are like your friends or lovers, even if they are a little stylized. But just enough to, as I said before, that they can inspire you to be a little better than you are. What would you like then to provoke this work in the spectators who are going to see it in theaters? In the best case, I hope it inspires a little to live better, be more open, more spontaneous and look at your friends or yourself with a capacity for wonder and even give you a new opportunity. The virgin of August claims Madrid in summer and the plan of those who have no plan. And it encourages you to think that life can be an adventure if you set your mind. Was it very difficult to have Soleá Morente to act on a stage? In the case of Soleá Morente, his songs were included from the beginning by their theme, their way of singing them, their personal and artistic path. I think it has certain aspects common to Eva's. It was very curious that we wanted to have her and recreate a concert of his at parties. And that, by surprise, this happened in real life, since it was part of the program of parties of the City Council in 2018 and we were able to record it to include its performance in the film. It was magical. How did the collaboration of hundreds of spontaneous people get like improvised extras? I have to confess that it was very helpful to get a trader permit that allowed us to move freely through the parties with lightness, discretion and a spirit of not disturbing. With this we get life to sneak into the frames. The beautiful thing was that people looked out first at the shoot; then I saw the cameras and was curious to later become part of the film itself. Luckily, because it would have been very difficult to recreate everything in a real way ...

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