• Release year: 2024
• Director: Icíar Bollaín.
• Producers: Juan Moreno, Guillermo Sempere and Koldo Zuazua.
• Screenplay by: Icíar Bollaín and Isa Campo.
• Cinematography by: Gris Jordana.
• Music by: Xavi Font.

Shotgun Commentary: incredibly challenging to watch, which is what makes it so good. It reflects the worst of Spanish society, but also the strength of which women are capable of.

Review

Soy Nevenka (I Am Nevenka) is the type of film that will make your blood run cold and boil at the same time. Female audiences might have a specially hard time watching it, not because they are weaker, but because most, if not all, of them knows to a degree what it is like to be subjected to completely unprofessional behaviour at work and to the harassment of strangers for simply walking down the street.

A story as old as abuse itself

This story is not only important as a reminder of a very relevant part of Spanish history that is seldom mentioned, but also to shine a light on the incredibly sexist societies we still live in. Societies where even after winning a sexual harassment case, you are still essentially a pariah while the aggressor can go back to work like nothing happened if he waits a couple of years.

The story of Nevenka Fernández (Mireia Oriol) is one of many that sadly happen every day to millions of women. It is always hard to explain and to understand sexual harassment. A common misconception is to think of it as one aggressive action, a catcall, a slap in the ass, etc.

However, it is usually a lot more like Chinese water torture, making it way harder for the victim to explain, as it is hard to remember everything unless you are keeping tabs, and a lot easier for the aggressor to write it off as imaginings and gaslight you into thinking it’s all in your head. In that sense, Soy Nevenka provides the perfect example for people to understand, once and for all, why it is so hard for victims to come forward and to explain why and how the harassment happened.

Modern lynching

One of the most striking, although sadly not surprising, moments of the film is a sequence where you can see the type of media coverage the case had back in the day. Back in the day being 23 years ago, mind you, we are not talking about the 18th century.

As a Spanish woman, it is so shameful and heartbreaking to see most journalists putting into question Nevenka’s statement for the sole reason of being a young, beautiful woman. Not that this issue only happens in Spain, but it is specially painful when such horrid sexism comes from news outlets you’ve grown up with. Especially when you see it come out of women’s mouths, which makes the matter positively revolting.

The hero

Aside from the direction and writing, which are absolutely fantastic, this story wouldn’t be nearly as powerful without the cast. Mireia Oriol is wonderful in the role of Nevenka. At first, her and Urko Olazabal (who plays aggressor Ismael) seem to be more reading lines from a script than actually acting. Fortunately, they soon get into the story, delivering some of the toughest moments to watch in 2024 cinema.

Oriol does justice to the hero that is Nevenka by showing her weaknesses and strengths but, most importantly, her humanity. Her performance puts to shame all those who cried about Nevenka being a harlot or an opportunist, people who should now be eating their words if they have any shame at all.

The villain

As for Olazabal, he has a very challenging role, one that not many actors dare or want to accept. Being a monster who abuses his power and puppeteers all those around him to profit is one thing, but being a monster who harasses, attacks, manipulates and sexually abuses a woman for committing the terrible sin of being young and beautiful is a whole other ordeal. Despite the difficulties and mental strain that being a true-life toerag must have required, Olazabal delivers a character that does justice to the story of Nevenka and showcases the horrors she endured because of the politician.

All in all, Soy Nevenka is the type of film that will make you quietly walk back home, take a long warm shower, and curl up in bed with a hot drink to wait for the day to be over. It is a very hard watch that, unlike most male-directed features about abused women, doesn’t bother to exploit the violence and degradation of it all, but rather the horror and mental strain of the victim. Highlighting the horror of the experience, respecting Nevenka and her legacy instead of mindlessly exploiting her story.

I Am Nevenka will be screened at London Film Festival the 10th and 11th of October. Get your tickets here!

Advice to take from this movie:

• Next time, think for a second before asking someone why they “let” someone else sexually harass them.
• No job is worth your dignity.
• NEVER let ANYONE refer to you as “girl”, “child”, or any physical adjective like “gorgeous” or “beautiful” in a work environment. Even if you are new and want to cause a good impression. It is unprofessional and disrespectful, and you don’t have to put up with that.

What’s your take? Have you watched I Am Nevenka? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀