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‘Marlowe’ closes Spain’s San Sebastian film festival

Spain's prestigious San Sebastian film festival wrapped up on Saturday with the international premiere of "Marlowe" starring Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson.

Published: 24 September 2022 18:17 CEST

Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger

Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson (L) and German actress Diane Kruger pose during a photo call for the film "Marlowe" during the 70th San Sebastian International Film Festival in the northern Spanish Basque city of San Sebastian on September 24, 2022. Photo: ANDER GILLENEA / AFP

Based on John Banville’s novel “The Black Eyed Blonde”, the movie is set in 1930s Los Angeles.

Private eye Philip Marlowe — played by Neeson — is tasked with finding the missing ex-lover of Clare Cavendish, a beautiful heiress played by German-born actress Diane Kruger.

The character Marlowe has been played before by the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Elliott Gould, but Neeson said this pedigree didn’t phase him from taking part in the neo-noir thriller.

“Even though these wonderful actors have played it before, that didn’t intimidate me,” Neeson told a press conference in San Sebastian.

The film by Oscar-winning director Neil Jordan was screened out of competition at the 70th edition of the festival, which opened in San Sebastian in northern Spain on September 16.

“We don’t get to play those kind of characters very often anymore or those kind of films are not being made that often anymore,” said Kruger, known for films such as “Inglourious Basterds” and “Troy”.

“I knew Neil would give it a certain quirky twist and that he would cast it superbly,” said Neeson.

A total of 17 films are competing for the best award in the official selection, with the festival’s prizes to be announced at a ceremony late Saturday.

The festival is the fourth major European film gala of the year, following Cannes, Venice and Berlin.

It was originally intended to honour Spanish-language films but has established itself as a top showcase for new films.

The festival hosted the world premiere of Alfred Hitchcock’s spy thriller “North by Northwest” in 1959 and Woody Allen’s “Melinda and Melinda” in 2004.

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Everything you need to know about Taylor Swift’s concerts in Madrid

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has finally arrived in Europe and the capital of Spain is getting ready to host her for two nights on Wednesday and Thursday May 29th and 30th.

Tay-Tay as many fans refer to her, will be playing at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, usually the home of Real Madrid football team, where more than 100,000 fans are expected to attend over the two days.

This is the first time the singer will perform in Spain in more than a decade.

With so many people attending from across Spain, and even flying in from South America, the US and other places across Europe, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared to navigate the crowds and arrive on time.

What transport can I use to get to the stadium?

You can reach Santiago Bernabéu by metro, cercanías or by bus. For the metro you can arrive at Santiago Bernabéu (Line 10), Concha Espina (Line 9) or Nuevos Ministerios (Line 8).

For cercanías you can take lines C1, C10, C4B, C7 and alight at Estación Nuevos Ministerios

For those taking the bus, you can take numbers 14, 27, 40, 43, 120, 147 and 150.

What time should I arrive?

Santiago Bernabéu will open its doors at two different times, depending on whether you have VIP or regular tickets. For those with VIP tickets, you’ll be able to enter from 3:30pm to 4:15pm. If you have a regular ticket, doors will open at 4:30pm.

If you’re in the pit, you’ll want to arrive as early as possible so you can get the best spot, but if you have a seat, you can arrive any time after doors open until the show starts.

Which entrance should I go to?

As the stadium is so big, it can be confusing to know exactly where you’re supposed to go. This will entirely depend on which type of ticket you have and where you’ll be sitting.

For reference:

Left front stage (early entry): gate 46

Early entry (general track): gate 41

General track: gate 27

Right front stage (early entry): gate 6

West side stand: gates 1, 2, 3, 3B, 5, 7, 9,19, 23 and 25

East side stand: gates 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 43, 45, 47, 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 62, 60, 56, 54, 52 and 48

What time does the concert begin?

Paramore is the opening act and they will begin at 6:45 p.m. They are estimated to last approximately 45 minutes, so Swift’s concert should begin at 8pm as it says on your ticket.

Swift’s show itself is expected to last three hours, but may finish anywhere between 11pm and midnight. It will cover eleven eras spread over the 18 years of her impressive career.

When and where can I buy official Taylor Swift merchandise?

Official Taylor Swift merchandise can be purchased at three locations on May 28th, 29th, and 30th.

On May 28th there will be stands set up on Av. de Concha Espina, 1 / Pl. Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 2 from 10am-8pm.

On May 29th and 30th stalls will be set up on Av. de Concha Espina, 1 from 10am until half past midnight.

There will also be stalls on P. de la Castellana, 160 / Pl. Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 2 from 10am-8pm.

Here’s what you need to know about the Taylor Swift concert in Madrid. Photo: ANDRE DIAS NOBRE / AFP

How can I find out about the fan zones?

There will be two fan zones that will open up one day before the concerts begin on Tuesday, May 28th. One will be located in front of Santiago Bernabéu stadium, on Paseo de la Castellana. The other will be in San Fernando Park, at the intersection of Calles Alberto Alcocer and Doctor Fleming.

Here, there will be refreshments, toilets and places for fans to exchange Swiftie friendship bracelets.

Some fans have even been camping out since Sunday May 26th in order to try and be first in the queue when the doors to the pit open.

What objects are banned inside the stadium?

Organisers have already published a long list of what will and what won’t be allowed during the concert.

Among the prohibited items are posters larger than A3 size, bags of more than ten litres or suitcases, objects that create noise and headphones.

You will also not be permitted to wear clothing or accessories that may impede other people’s view of the stage. Glass, hard plastic or metal containers will also be restricted. Only one transparent plastic water bottle, no larger than 50cl will be allowed.

Alcoholic drinks, aerosols, perfumes and smoke, as well as illegal or dangerous objects and crutches without a medical certificate will also be prohibited.

One item that has caused great controversy among fans is the ban on portable batteries, among other electronic objects such as instant cameras and selfie sticks. Because all tickets are digital, those who plan on getting there first thing in the morning, may risk running out of battery before the concert even begins.

Where can I find food?

Food brought in from outside the venue will also be prohibited, which has caused some anger among fans, given that it’s due to go on for around four hours, plus extra queuing time before the show begins.

The good news is though that they will be lots to eat inside the stadium itself. In fact, it’s even better news for vegans and vegetarians, Taylor Swift has requested that her fans should be able to buy “plant-based” snacks during her concerts if they wish. This means several Heura (Barcelona-based meat substitute brand) items will be available, including vegan burgers with vegan cheese and vegetable wraps.

Having said that, it’s best if you eat a proper meal before the concert somewhere in the surrounding area too.

In sticking with the healthy eating theme, Honest Greens, just a seven-minute walk from the stadium is a great option. With branches all across Madrid and Barcelona, it has become the go-to place for not only vegans and vegetarians but the health-conscious and those who simply love great flavour. Think, hearty Latin salads loaded with corn and jalapeños, poke bowls and sweet potato teriyaki with black garlic. There’s also steak chimichurri, tuna tataki and piri piri chicken for meat and fish lovers.

Another good choice a 15-minute walk away is La Fonda de la Confianza run by Paco Patón, serving up tuna with a fried egg fritter and potato sticks or grilled squid with roasted tomato juice and asparagus.

What will the weather be like?

Although the concerts will take place inside, if you’re planning on queuing outside, early in the morning, it’s important to note that forecasters have predicted temperatures of 34C Wednesday and 35C on Thursday, so you must take precautions such hats, sunglasses and sunscreen.

Taylor Swift has been smashing musical and economic records for years and her show in Madird is expected to be no different. She has sold more than 150 million albums and has won 12 Grammys. At 34 years old she is already on the list of the world’s richest billionaires.

Named as Time Magazine’s 2024 person of the year, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour 2023-2024 became the highest-grossing concert tour of all time.

In 2024, her international Eras Tour is expected to exceed 1 billion in revenue throughout the world, with an economic impact of about 5 billion, exceeding the GDP of more than half a dozen countries. Her show in Madrid alone is expected to generate 20 million for the Spanish capital

Taylor fever has already been taking over Madrid for the last few weeks and the city has been preparing with traffic cuts, restrictions and even special menus around in restaurants around the stadium.

According to The Train Line, the sale of train tickets has also skyrocketed, especially from Seville, Barcelona and Valencia.

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