Mar adentro (2004/I)

Director:

Alejandro Amenábar

Writers:

Alejandro Amenábar (screenplay) and
Mateo Gil (screenplay)

Release Date:

3 September 2004 (Italy)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

The real-life story of Spaniard Ramon Sampedro, who fought a 30 year campaign in favor of euthanasia and his own right to die.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Euthanasia | Quadriplegic | Right To Die | Music Score Composed By Director

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 60 wins & 30 nominations

Cast

Javier Bardem	...	Ramón Sampedro
Belén Rueda	...	Julia
Lola Dueñas	...	Rosa
Mabel Rivera	...	Manuela
Celso Bugallo	...	José
Clara Segura	...	Gené
Joan Dalmau	...	Joaquín
Alberto Jiménez	...	Germán
Tamar Novas	...	Javi
Francesc Garrido	...	Marc
Josep Maria Pou	...	Padre Francisco (as José María Pou)
Alberto Amarilla	...	Hermano Andrés
Andrea Occhipinti	...	Santiago
Federico Pérez Rey	...	Conductor
Nicolás Fernández Luna	...	Cristian
Raúl Lavisier	...	Samuel
Xosé Manuel Olveira 'Pico'	...	Juez 1
César Cambeiro	...	Juez 2
Xosé Manuel Esperante	...	Periodista 1
Yolanda Muiños	...	Periodista 2
Adolfo Obregón	...	Ejecutivo
José Luis Rodríguez	...	Presentador
Julio Jordán	...	Encuadernador
Juan Manuel Vidal	...	Amigo Ramón
Marta Larralde	...	Muchacha Playa
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jordi Ballester

Directed by
Alejandro Amenábar

Writing credits
Alejandro Amenábar		(screenplay) and
Mateo Gil		(screenplay)

Produced by
Alejandro Amenábar	....	producer
Fernando Bovaira	....	producer
Emiliano Otegui	....	line producer

Original Music by
Alejandro Amenábar

Cinematography by
Javier Aguirresarobe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Alejandro Amenábar

Casting by
Luis San Narciso		(casting director)

Production Design by
Benjamín Fernández

Art Direction by
Benjamín Fernández

Set Decoration by
Emilio Ardura

Costume Design by
Sonia Grande

Makeup Department
James Allen	....	special makeup assistant
Jo Allen	....	special makeup designer
Mara Collazo	....	hair stylist
Chris Fitzgerald	....	sculptor
Manolo García	....	hair stylist
Ana López Puigcerver	....	makeup artist
David Martí	....	special makeup effects artist
Ana Urosa	....	makeup artist

Production Management
José Antonio García Tapia	....	production manager
Emiliano Otegui	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Larisa Balinge	....	assistant director
José Ramón Otegui	....	second assistant director (as Joserra Otegui)
Walter Prieto	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gonzalo Anso	....	props
Alberto Báez	....	carpenter
Leo Báez	....	construction coordinator
Pedro Calderón	....	painter
Paco Calonge	....	props (as Francisco Calonge)
Manuel Casla	....	carpenter
Carlos Chamorro	....	laborer
Manuel Chamorro	....	carpenter
Salvador Comes	....	painter
Blas Díaz	....	carpenter
Francisco Díaz	....	carpenter
Alejandro Fernández	....	assistant art director
Francisco Fernández	....	carpenter
Antonio Lopez	....	carpenter
Natalia Montes	....	storyboard artist
Rubén Rivas	....	graphic designer
Tino Torrescusa	....	property master
Ana Viana	....	apprentice art director
Juan Ignacio Viñuales	....	props

Sound Department
Susana Benito	....	assistant sound mixer
Ricard Camprodón	....	sound consultant: SDDS
Manuel Cora	....	sound consultant: DTS
Juan Ferro	....	sound editor
Alfonso Raposo	....	sound mixer
Guillermo Solana	....	boom operator
María Steinberg	....	sound editor
María Steinberg	....	sound effects editor
Ricardo Steinberg	....	sound
Ricardo Viñas	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby

Special Effects by
David Campos	....	special effects
Pau Costa	....	special effects supervisor
Giacomo Iovino	....	mold maker
Javier Jal	....	special effects technician
Javier H. Moneo	....	special effects technician
Julio Navarro	....	special effects technician
Raúl Romanillos	....	special effects supervisor
Juan Serrano	....	special effects technician: DDT SFX
Stuart Sewell	....	mold maker

Visual Effects by
Sara Alavés	....	visual effects producer
Nike Alonso	....	visual effects producer
Helmuth Barnert	....	digital compositor
Manuel Barrero	....	digital restoration: Fotofilm Madrid
Félix Bergés	....	visual effects supervisor
Montse Capdevila	....	digital compositor
María Carretero	....	graphic effects artist
Gonzalo Carrión	....	3D infography
Eduardo Díaz	....	digital compositor
Juancho Fernández	....	digital compositor
Segundo Fernández	....	digital compositor
Vincent Gilot	....	motion control operator
Tim Mendler	....	motion control operator
Matías Nieto	....	time lapse photography
Guillermo Orbe	....	digital compositor
Thorsten Rienth	....	digital compositor
Rubén Sanz	....	visual effects producer
Rafa Solorzano	....	visual effects supervisor (as Rafael Solorzano)
Carlos Trijueque	....	digital compositor
El Khadir Palomo Yusef	....	3D operator

Stunts
Guiomar Alonso	....	stunts
Eugenio Jiménez	....	stunts
Miguel Pedregosa	....	stunt coordinator
Álvaro Quiroga	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Miguel Balanzategui	....	combo operator
Ion Barco	....	apprentice camera (as Jon Barco )
Miguel Cano	....	electrician
Gustavo de la Fuente	....	assistant camera
Rafael García Martos	....	gaffer
Raúl García	....	assistant camera
Yosu Inchaustegui	....	Steadicam operator (as Josu Inchaustegui)
Yosu Inchaustegui	....	second assistant camera (as Josu Inchaustegui)
Teresa Isasi	....	still photographer
Carlos Miguel	....	key grip
Juan Ramos	....	Steadicam operator: second unit
Juan Matías Ramos	....	Steadicam operator: second unit
Alberto Sánchez Beltrán	....	electrician (as Alberto Sánchez)
Marcelino San Eugenio	....	electrician
James Swanson	....	aerial director of photography

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cristina Martínez	....	costume assistant
Cristina Ureña	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Carlos Agulló	....	assistant editor
Paolo Balestrazzi	....	assistant editor
Yolanda Cáceres	....	color timer
Felisa Catalinas	....	negative cutter
Manuela Díaz	....	post-production: Sogecine
Enrique Domínguez	....	assistant editor
Eladio Fernández	....	post-production: Sogecine
Miguel P. Gilaberte	....	digital intermediate colorist

Music Department
Chris Barrett	....	assistant music engineer
Xavier Capellas	....	orchestrator
Nicholas Cervonaro	....	assistant music engineer (as Nick Cervonaro)
José Luis Crespo	....	music mixer
Álvaro Cruz	....	assistant music engineer
Lucio Godoy	....	music producer
Claudio Ianni	....	orchestrator
Brian Masterson	....	music recording engineer
Carlos Núñez	....	soundtrack collaborator
Rubén Suárez	....	assistant music engineer
Gavyn Wright	....	orchestra leader

Other crew
Pablo Alfaro	....	financial director: Sogecine
Francisco Arnoso 'Pixi'	....	production assistant: Galicia
Antonio Bazaga	....	advisor: Eurimages
Yuyi Beringola	....	script supervisor
Beatriz Bodegas	....	legal assistant: Sogecine
Soledad Cebrián	....	accountant: Sogecine
Eduardo Chapero-Jackson	....	production crew: Sogecine
Urko Errazquin	....	marketing: Sogecine
Fernando Esteban	....	legal department: Sogecine
Marian Fernández	....	production assistant
Luis Ferrón	....	production assistant
Mar Francolí	....	location manager: Galicia
Virginia Galvez	....	production assistant: Barcelona (as Virginia Gálvez)
Nuria Garcia Atienza	....	production crew: Sogecine (as Nuria Gª Atienza)
Marga García	....	marketing: Sogecine
Rosa Garcia	....	publicist
Valentín García	....	production assistant: Galicia
Susana Herreras	....	production crew: Sogecine
Lola Liñares	....	production assistant
Javier Martín	....	accountant: Sogecine
José Miguel Mendiola	....	production accountant
César Mendizábal	....	directors apprentice
Eva Muslera	....	production controller: Sogecine
Frédéric North	....	helicopter pilot (as Fred North)
Federico Pérez Rey	....	linguistics consultant: Galician
Luc Poullain	....	aerial coordinator
Carmen Rico	....	production secretary
Noelia Romero	....	accountant: Sogecine
Cecilia Rubio	....	legal department: Sogecine
Francisco Sanchez Ortiz	....	marketing: Sogecine (as Francisco Sánchez Ortíz)
Germán Sela	....	marketing: Sogecine
Eva Soto	....	publicist: Sogecine
Paul Turcotte	....	location manager: Seychelles
Guillem Vidal-Folch	....	production apprentice: Barcelona
Daniel M. Villalba	....	second production assistant
Daniel Villagomez	....	credits administrator (uncredited)

Thanks
Ramona Maneiro	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Sogepaq (presents)
• Sociedad General de Cine (SOGECINE) S.A.
• Himenóptero
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (co-production)
• Eyescreen S.r.l. (co-production)
• Televisión Española (TVE) (collaboration)
• Canal+ (collaboration)
• Televisión de Galicia (TVG) S.A. (collaboration)
• Filmanova (collaboration) (as Filmnova Invest)
• Eurimages (supported by)
• Ministerio de Cultura (supported by)

Distributors

• Sogepaq Distribución (2004) (worldwide) (all media)
• Sogepaq (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Fine Line Features (2004) (USA) (all media) (subtitled)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Central Partnership (2005) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• SPI International (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Toho-Towa (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Lucky Red (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vidéo (2005) (France) (DVD)
• Warner Sogefilms S.A.

Special Effects

• Efe-X

Other Companies

• Aerial Camera Systems  helicopter gyrostabilized camera system
• Air Studios  music recorded at
• Cinetel  electrical equipment
• EPC  camera equipment
• EPC  grip equipment
• El Igloo P.C. S.L.  editing
• Exa S.A.  sound mixing studio
• Falco Ink.  publicity
• Fotosíntesis  still photographies laboratory
• La Coartada  extras casting
• Madrid Film S.A.  film lab
• Red Led  music mixed at
• Tot Models  extras casting

Also Known As:

The Sea Inside (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Mare dentro (Italy)
The Sea Within (Europe: English title)
Gråta med ett leende (Finland: Swedish title) (Sweden) [sv]
Море внутри (Russia) [ru]
Belsö tenger (Hungary) [hu]
Das Meer in mir (Germany) [de]
Havet innenfor (Norway) [no]
I thalassa mesa mou (Greece) [el]
Içimdeki deniz (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Mar Adentro (Brazil) [pt]
Marea dinauntru (Romania) [ro]
Meri sisälläni (Finland) [fi]
Mit indre hav (Denmark) [da]
Sisemeri (Estonia) [et]
W strone morza (Poland) [pl]
Zivot je more (Croatia) [hr]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense depiction of mature thematic material.

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

Spain | France | Italy

Language:

Spanish | Catalan | Galician

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital EX | DTS-ES

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Iceland:12 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:7 | Greece:K-13 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Chile:14 | Czech Republic:15 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:12A | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:MG6 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | Norway:11

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

Sogepaq

Trivia:

Three months before Spanish premiere, Alejandro Amenábar gave a photo to the media to be shown all over the nation to make people get used to Bardem's make-up and forget about it while watching the film to pay attention to his performance.

Quotes:

Padre Francisco: Freedom without a life is not freedom.
Ramón Sampedro: A life without freedom is not a life.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Echo City

Mostly excellent story of a man who wants out of life

The true story of a Spanish paraplegic, Ramón Sampedro, who fought for decades for the right to be euthenized. This film, along with the Best Picture winner of the same year, Million Dollar Baby, caused a stir that year with their depictions of disabled persons desiring death. Both advocates for the disabled and (unfortunately for the disability advocates) conservative pro-life groups protested both films, and their Oscar nominations. The nominations also came during the entire Terry Schiavo debacle, just to put it all in some historical perspective. The protests, especially from the disability groups, against Million Dollar Baby make some sense – the film clearly depicted, without wavering, the life of a paraplegic as worthless. The film's central character, Maggie Fitzgerald, becomes a paraplegic, doesn't seem to get any counseling whatsoever, no help whatsoever, and immediately wants to die. The film is, honestly, pretty dumb and uncomplex. The Sea Inside, based on the true story, is certainly a lot more thoughtful on the subject. It most likely got railroaded into the same category as Million Dollar Baby without its protesters having even seen it, an incredibly common phenomenon. The film does give time to many different sides of the argument. And it immediately declares that the wish to die is that of the protagonist and the protagonist alone. It is guilty of a couple of crimes, though, and I'd still understand why disability groups could have a problem with it. First and foremost, there's the protagonist's meeting with a paraplegic bishop. I don't look kindly on the way he's depicted. His orally operated wheelchair is depicted as absurd, and there's almost a comic sequence where his effeminate, boy-toy servants are dragging him, in his chair, up the stairs. He can't even reach the room in which Ramón is located, and one of the boy-toys is forced to carry the conversation between them. I had to think, gee, maybe if Ramón lived in a slightly more wheelchair-accessible household, he wouldn't spend his entire life in bed, and might find life more fulfilling (who knows how closely the film depicts the reality). Director Amenábar (The Others) also includes some laughable scenes that try to make this film about suicide more life-affirming, like a cross-cut sequence where Ramón looks thoughtful and his lawyer's baby is born. But besides a few ugly moments, the film is very good. It hurts that someone may want to die when they have the ability to bring so much joy and insight into the lives of others. However, in the end, our lives do belong to us. Shouldn't we have the right to choose? The film's strongest asset is its supporting characters, and the actors who play them. It depicts how Ramón's fight and decisions affect those around him with a beautiful precision. The family members in particular are great, and Ramón's final departure from them is absolutely heartbreaking, and had me in tears. My favorite performance in the film comes from Lola Dueñas, whom I also felt gave the best, or at least certainly most undervalued, performance in Almodóvar's Volver last year.