Daniela Forever
2024 film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daniela Forever is a 2024 science fiction romantic drama film written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo. Its plot follows a young man (Henry Golding) reviving his lost love (Beatrice Grannò) through lucid dreams, with unintended consequences.
- Nahikari Ipiña
- Nacho Vigalondo
- Benoit Roland
- Leire Apellaniz
| Daniela Forever | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Nacho Vigalondo |
| Written by | Nacho Vigalondo |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Jon D. Domínguez |
| Edited by | Carolina Martínez Urbina |
| Music by | Hidrogenesse |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Filmax (es) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 118 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
| Box office | $64,085[2][3] |
The film premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. It was released in Spanish theatres by Filmax on 21 February 2025.
Plot
The plot is set in Madrid.[4] Uneasily coping with the tragic loss of his significant other Daniela, Nicolas joins a clinical trial delivering a reconstruction of Daniela by means of lucid dreams.[5]
Cast
- Henry Golding as Nicolas[5]
- Beatrice Grannò as Daniela[5]
- Rubén Ochandiano as Garrido[6]
- Aura Garrido as Teresa[7]
- Nathalie Poza as Victoria[7]
- Pilar Bergés as Susi[6]
- Rocío Saiz as Catalina[6]
- Frank Feys as doctor Raymond[6]
Production
The film is a Spanish-Belgian co-production by Sayaka Producciones, Wrong Men, Señor y Señora, and Mediacrest Entertainment[8] with funding from ICAA, Wallimage, Filmin, and Movistar Plus+.[5][9] XYZ Films handled sales.[10] In February 2023, the project was revealed, with Nacho Vigalondo as director and Henry Golding as a lead actor.[11] Vigalondo then stated that he hoped the story delivered "everything I want to say about love, dreams and Madrid".[5][12] Later in April 2023, Beatrice Grannò was reported to have joined the cast as a co-star.[9] In July 2023, Rubén Ochandiano was reported to be part of the film, with Ochandiano likewise reporting Aura Garrido and Nathalie Poza as fellow cast members.[13] Filming took place in Madrid.[14]
Release
Selected as the opening film of the Platform Prize competition of the 49th Toronto International Film Festival,[4] the film premiered on 6 September 2024.[15] It also made it to the slate of the 2024 Fantastic Fest (for its US premiere) and to the official selection of the 57th Sitges Film Festival (for its European premiere).[16][17]
Distributed by Filmax,[9] the film was scheduled to be released theatrically in Spain on 28 February 2025.[18] The theatrical release date was subsequently moved forward one week to 21 February 2025.[19]
Well Go USA acquired North-American distribution rights to the film.[20]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 83% of 23 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.8/10.[21]
Jourdain Searles of IndieWire gave the film a 'B' rating, writing that "there's something to be said about a love story that isn't afraid to admit that one of the lovers isn't the charming dreamboat he appears to be".[7]
Chase Hutchinson of TheWrap wrote that the film "is afraid to ever dream big, leaving nothing more than a banal nightmare".[22]
Olivia Popp of Cineuropa judged that it is much more rewarding "to read the feature less as a sci-fi/romance blend than a journey of sci-fi existentialism that interrogates the nature of desire, attachment and loneliness.".[23]
Raquel Hernández Luján of HobbyConsolas gave the film 75 points ('good'), writing that Vigalondo tells a story "in which art, dream and mourning come together in a visually dazzling way, even if there are twists and turns that shake the narrative".[24]
Fausto Fernández of Fotogramas rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, declaring it "a wonderful act of love, selfish, manipulative but ultimately full of sincerity and sacrifice".[25]
Rubén Romero Santos of Cinemanía rated the film 4½ out of 5 stars, deeming it to be "a critique of escapism" and "a vindication of the stoic sense of life".[26]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026 | 13th Feroz Awards | Best Original Soundtrack | Hidrogenesse | Nominated | [27] |
