Upcoming film “The Big Rip” (“El gran desgarro”) is the brainchild of Rai María and is part of the esteemed incubator program at the Madrid Film School (ECAM). The narrative follows Lorena, an aspiring writer who is racing against the clock to complete her debut novel for a prestigious literary prize—her final opportunity to achieve recognition. As she secludes herself to concentrate on her writing, she finds her solitude repeatedly disrupted by the turmoil of daily life: a malfunctioning boiler amidst Madrid’s sweltering summer, crises instigated by her flatmates, the neglected child living next door, and most strikingly, her brother’s deepening paranoia as he becomes convinced that the apocalypse is imminent.
Lorena’s struggle to pen the final chapter of her book leads her life to intertwine with the chaotic unraveling of the universe surrounding her.
For Maria, “The Big Rip” marks her third feature film and is her most personal work to date. She reflects, “It cuts through me on every level. I think, in some way, it all began with the depression I experienced some time ago. Turning 40 wasn’t easy, and like the characters in this story, I felt something inside me break open,” she explains.
“I always intended for the film to embody humor and tenderness, juxtaposing dark themes with light-heartedness. It is an existential comedy that highlights our everyday struggles,” she adds.
“I have come to realize that a central motif in all my films is destiny,” she muses. “While the individual films may explore different narratives, they all aim to illustrate the thread that connects the intimate and the transcendent—this line that demarcates the mundane from the moments of revelation.”
“This film deeply grapples with troubling contemporary issues such as the housing crisis and the emotional and economic precarity faced by the characters. However, beyond these themes, I am primarily focused on uncovering what I call ‘the lightning bolt’—the fundamental concept that shapes the film. Without that spark, a film lacks direction,” she explains.
Maria, who has previously filmed in Extremadura, is set to shoot “The Big Rip” in Madrid, particularly in the working-class neighborhood of Carabanchel. “This will be my first film that feels distinctly contemporary and explicitly Madrilenian. The key rupture within the story could not happen anywhere else but Madrid,” she asserts.
Producer Cristina Hergueta of Garde expresses her excitement about collaborating with Maria for the third time on this project. Their partnership began with the feature film “Karen,” followed by the acclaimed short “La niña mártir,” which garnered awards at the Gijón Film Festival.
“Both of our past collaborations were received well critically and enjoyed festival success. Now, we are prepared to embark on creating our most ambitious film yet,” says Hergueta.
According to her, “The Big Rip” represents a natural progression of their creative journey. “Through our eight-year relationship, Rai María and I have developed a friendship that transcends professional boundaries, allowing us to deeply understand one another as artists,” she adds.
Hergueta explains that the project is subject to a public funding cap, which limits it to 75% of the total budget. This allows the combination of public grants and tax incentives. They have already secured private investors and are actively engaging with local co-producers while seeking international collaborations.
With backing from the Junta de Extremadura, the ECAM Industry Incubator, and confirmed private investments, they have secured 23% of the film’s funding thus far, according to Hergueta.
Among Hergueta’s upcoming projects is artist Pedro G. Romero’s next two flamenco film endeavors: “Caracafé in Kazakhstan,” currently in post-production, and “Cinco Cadi,” which is in pre-production.
She also notes, “We have just finished post-production on the documentary feature ‘What We Did in the Shadows’ by Sara Moralo, which portrays a group of elderly LGBTQ+ individuals striving to find a safe space following a lifetime of repression.”
