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53 Winter Days

53 Winter Days is a 2006 Spanish drama film directed by Judith Colell and written by Gemma Ventura. Starring Mercedes Sampietro, Àlex Brendemühl, and Aina Clotet, the plot follows three vignettes, respectively concerning a school teacher suffering from harassment, a security guard under economic distress, and a wannabe musician. It explores the fragility of the human spirit in a society immersed in the morality of success.

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Jul 9, 2026
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53 Winter Days
Spanish53 días de invierno
Directed byJudith Colell
Screenplay byGemma Ventura
Starring
CinematographySergi Gallardo
Edited byDavid Gallart
Distributed byFilmax
Release dates
  • September 2006 (2006-09) (Zinemaldia)
  • 26 October 2007 (2007-10-26) (Spain)
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

53 Winter Days (Spanish: 53 días de invierno) is a 2006 Spanish drama film directed by Judith Colell and written by Gemma Ventura. Starring Mercedes Sampietro, Àlex Brendemühl, and Aina Clotet, the plot follows three vignettes, respectively concerning a school teacher suffering from harassment, a security guard under economic distress, and a wannabe musician. It explores the fragility of the human spirit in a society immersed in the morality of success.1

It received 9 nominations at the VI Barcelona Cinema Awards but did not win any.

Plot

Three people meet one winter night at a bus stop. The three witness the abandonment of a dog. The three are: Mila, a high school teacher who has been on sick leave for a year after suffering an attack by one of her students; Celso, a married security guard, father of a son, and with serious financial problems, and about to find out that he will become a father again, this time of twins; and Valeria, a cello student, with a troubled family and romantic relationship.2

The three characters embark on a drifting journey that will lead them to confront their fears and frustrations and make life-changing decisions.

Cast

Production

The film is an Ovideo production and it had the backing of TVE and TVC.5 Shooting began on 20 February 2006 and took place in and around Barcelona.6 It has been dubbed in Catalan.7

Release

The film was presented in the 'Zabaltegi-Nuevos Directores' section of the San Sebastián International Film Festival in 2006.8 It also screened at the Toulouse Spanish Film Festival.9 It was released theatrically in Spain on 26 October 2007.10

Reception

Jonathan Holland of Variety considered that the interweaving of the three stories results into an "unexpectedly resonant, understated whole" [although] the film's themes are déjà vu".5

The review in El País assessed that there is "little to criticize about the film" insofar it achieves what it sets out to be, if anything, the repetition of tropes, which gives a sense of déjà vu.11

Accolades

52nd Sant Jordi Awards12
Category Person Result
Best Actor in a Spanish Film Àlex Brendemühl Winner
Toulouse Spanish Film Festival
Best Actress Award (Aina Clotet)13
Butaca Awards 2008
Best Catalan Film and Best Catalan Actress (Aina Clotet).14
See also

See also

References

References

  1. The film '53 días de invierno' addresses "the fragility of the soul" in a society where "only success matters", Europa Press, October 23, 2007
  2. "53 días de invierno". Fotogramas (in European Spanish). 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  3. "Latidos de frío que se curan con afecto". Levante-EMV. Prensa Ibérica. 2 November 2007.
  4. "53 dies d'hivern". TV3. 23 October 2009 – via 3Cat.
  5. Holland, Jonathan (11 October 2006). "53 Winter Days". Variety.
  6. Maldivia, Beatriz (29 March 2006). "Finaliza el rodaje de '53 días de invierno'". Espinof.
  7. "ésAdir > 53 dies d'hivern". ésAdir (in Catalan). Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  8. "Arrenca el Festival de Sant Sebastià amb segell català". Empordà. Prensa Ibérica. 17 September 2010.
  9. Maldivia, Beatriz (23 October 2007). "'53 días de invierno'. Mala no es, pero…". Espinof.
  10. "53 días de invierno". Fotogramas. 29 May 2008.
  11. "53 días de invierno". El País. 26 October 2007.
  12. "TVE presents the gala of the 52nd edition of the RNE Sant Jordi Film Awards". RTVE. April 22, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  13. EFE (2007-10-06). "'La caja' gana el Festival de cine español de Toulouse". Diario de Ibiza (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  14. "Aina Clotet recibe el Premio Butaca como Mejor Actriz de Cine por "53 días de invierno"". www.infoperiodistas.info. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
External links