The August Virgin

In the hot summer months, when Madrileños leave their homes in droves to escape the insufferable heat, the centre of Madrid is left abandoned. That is, except for the tourists and a handful of undaunted locals – and those who can’t see the way forward, like Eva, a charming thirty-something. Nevertheless, summer’s the best time to find out who we really are. Told with appealing finesse, the story unfolds during the city’s August festivals, when a person’s inner turmoil can be soothed by fleeting encounters, laid-back evening conversations, and unexpected nocturnal adventures. The observationally precise script, delightful particularly in situations where ostensibly nothing much is happening, is a collaborative effort between the film’s director and the actress playing the lead, Itsaso Arana. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)