321 Days in Michigan


321 Days in Michigan is a 2014 Spanish film directed by Enrique Garcia, winner of best director in a debut film at the Premios Asecan del Cine Andaluz. 321 Days in Michigan was the winner of the Audience Award at the Málaga Film Festival, 2014.

Synopsis

Filmed at the former provincial jail of Málaga, it is the story of Antonio Chico García, a young and successful executive, condemned to go to prison because of white collar crimes. In order to hide this fact, he pretends he is spending time at the University of Michigan working on a master's degree. His girlfriend Lola,, agrees to help him by uploading pictures to a blog about his fictional life there. The film deals with his life in prison and his relationships with fellow inmates.

Cast

Despite the omnipresence of Antonio throughout the film, some critics consider that this is really the story of Sara,. The Videodromo film critic Aitziber Saldias states "...this is Sara's film, Sara's story. She catches all the attention by just moving in the background..." De Morata won best supporting actress.
In his review for El Mundo, Cristóbal C. Monilla notes that prison is seen as a place where people are more "burdened by their internal condemnation dictated by life itself than by the physical confinement behind bars."
The Fotogramas critic, Mirito Torreiro, considers that "its authenticy, dynamism, the humanity that comes from its actors." constitutes the film best qualities. "So much so as to forgive its faults..."

Awards