Saints

Eulalia, or Lali (Victoria Luengo), a Catalonian woman in her early thirties, is a small-change criminal. She lives by petty thefts, stealing even from her gambling mates. One night, her mother (Ariadna Gil) phones her because she’s dying and needs her help. Even if she has never been close to her mother, Lali goes to Barcelona to be with her. The very ill woman remembers her Catholic faith and literally pushes Lali into the hospital chapel. There Lali has a revelation, not a spiritual one but an epiphany nevertheless, and begins a lucrative career stealing religious statues and relics, even joining a gang of specialized burglars.

Is it a more serious crime, or more sinful, to steal saints than other things? In Catholic countries it is considered a terrible offense even if, objectively, the damage is not great.  Any church could do without one or two saints. Since Catholic doctrine is against idolatryy, the figures are just earthly symbols of better souls now in heaven. For Lali, a lapsed Catholic, the value is economical; she doesn´t even know the name of the saints she steals. For Sara (Eulalia Ramón), the boss of the gang and an ex-nun, the ethics are more complicated.

Lali´s life, even if precarious, used to be carefree. She laughed constantly and seem quite happy when one of her schemes worked. Her new life brings concern for her mother’s situation and the scant healthcare she gets from the government. Lali is used to working alone, while her new “job” is a team effort, with a command chain and total obedience to it.

The clever script by director Mikel Gurrea does not overexplain, or even explain, things, increasing the mystery and leaving the audience to their own, sometimes sinful, thoughts. When Lali asks Sara for help with her mother, it looks like they are being asked to perform euthanasia; instead it’s a ritual that’s half-religious and half-spa. We never know why a former nun is robbing churches and convents. And who are “the band of misfits” who organize and perform the heists?

This life surrounded by religious statues is new to Lali, who believes in karma more than mortal sin. Are there guidelines in this business? A line that must not be crossed? Lali wants to know Sara’s moral compass. “What are these saints to you?” she asks desperately, but receives no answer. Nevertheless the line is there:  loyalty to her colleagues; like the Marines, never leave a member of the team behind. Lali finds her own salvation in rebelling against Sara´s rules. It’s not about religion or the saints, but lack of empathy and solidarity.

This is the second feature film of Mikel Gurrea, who made a very successful debut with Suro (2022), winner of the Fipresci Award and the best screenplay in San Sebastian that year. The script is also the strong point of Saints — the narrative flows easily, leaving questions and problems in the mind of the audience.

Director: Mikel Gurrea
Cast: Victoria Luengo, Cosimo Fusco, Ariadna Gil,
Screenplay: Mikel Gurrea,Fran Kosterlitz
Production: Laura Rubirola, Tono Folguera, Giovanni Pompili, Ariadna Dot
Photography: Julián Elizalde
Music: Valentina Magaletti
Edition: Chiara Dainese
Sound: Nora Haddad
Production companies: Nocturna Pictures (Spain) in co-production with Lastor Media (Spain)
Kino Produzioni (Italy) and Deliris Films (Spain)
Production design: Laia Serra Ros
Distribution: Elastica (Spain)
Venue: San Sebastian Film Festival (Competition)
In Catalan, Spanish
Running time: 103 min.