Afternoons of Solitude
August 3, 2025
7:00pm | SIFF Film Center
Presented by Grand Illusion Cinema.
The new film from the visionary director of Pacifiction, Albert Serra’s Afternoons of Solitude is a spellbinding documentary that turns its gaze on the ceremonial splendor and devastating brutality of bullfighting in Spain.
SIFF year-round passes and vouchers are not valid for this screening.
With quiet intensity, Serra follows famed matador Andrés Roca Rey, from the solitude of his hotel room and the meticulousness of his preparations to the charged spectacle of the arena. Through his immersive and unhurried lens, Serra reveals Rey’s profound physical, spiritual, and aesthetic commitment to a centuries-old ritual—one that demands he take part in a timeless duel between man and beast.
Winner of the Golden Seashell for Best Film at the 2024 San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Please note: This documentary doesn't shy away, whatsoever, from showing the brutality of bullfighting. Viewer discretion advised.
- Director: Albert Serra
- Principal Cast: Andrés Roca Rey
- Country: Spain, France, Portugal
- Year: 2024
- Running Time: 125 min.
- Awards: 2024 San Sebastián International Film Festival (Golden Seashell - Best Film)
- Language: Spanish
- Has Subtitles: Yes