7 ANOS/ 7 YEARS

Spain, 2016, 77 minutes, Colour.

Juana Acosta, Alex Brendemuehl, Paco Leon, Manuel Moron, Juan Pablo Raba.

Directed by Roger Gual.

Very interesting Spanish film, set in one room except for an opening brief sequence at a door, and the finale, during the final credits, with the mediator character sitting in a taxi, offering an opportunity for the audience to think about him, his role in mediation, the members of the mediation experience.

Audiences may be reminded of the film versions of 12 Angry Men, the discussions taking place in one room, confrontations, searching for the truth, certainly angry moments.

Four friends have formed a company together in the early 2000’s, Luis a creative inventor, Marcel the practical liaison with customers and governance, Vero, supportive and creative, Carlos, genial man about town, dealing with the customers.

Varo has invested money without letting the others know, issues of fraud arising, a tax official coming to meet them, and the possibility of one of them going to prison. There is heated discussion about who should go with Marcel calling in an experienced legal mediator who is contracted, promised a high salary, but does his best to handle the volatility within the characters, taking up all their issues, drawing them out, and a decision being finally made.

And there is a surprising decision at the end.

1. A brief, intense drama? 77 minutes? Confined to the one boardroom?
2. The background of Madrid, business, taxation, law, fraud, international investment?
3. The opening, the introduction to Luis and Carlos, arriving at the office, Marcus and his playing the arcade game, Vero and her arrival? Relationships between the four?
4. The background, the company, established for over 10 years, Luis and his ability with inventions and creativity, Marcus and management, dealing with clients and finding clients, Carlos and his entertaining and rapport with clients, Vero and her management? All equally owning the company?
5. Information about the crisis, Marcus and the phone calls from Natalya, the warnings about the tax inspector coming, the Swiss investment, Vero and her decisions, the tax office?
6. The decision that one of the four should go to prison? Individual reluctance? The discussions, pros and cons? The calling in of the mediator, his arrival, initial impression, legal background, the offer of the contract, the very good deal, payment for his mediation session?
7. The portrait of each of the four characters? Strengths, weaknesses? Sympathetic or not? Their ability within the company, the various responsibilities? The issue of which one would go to jail, the one who would be most easily missed from management of the company? Participation in the mediation?
8. Marcel, the bureaucrat, self-confidence, the importance of finding clients, management, memories of the past, setting up of the company, Las Vegas, success? His relationship with Vero and the revelations of the affair over 15 years? His marriage to Chloe, his daughter, devotion to his daughter? The phone calls from Natalya, the mounting pressure with the imminent arrival of the taxation officer? His attitude towards each of the other members? His finally being pressurised, the criticisms, Vero and her threatening to expose him in his relationships? And the consequent damage for the company?
9. Luis, technical genius, his inventions, consequent finance? His erratic personality? Unsympathetic? His wanting a draw to solve who would go to prison? This being rejected? The discussions, his antagonism towards each of the other members? His grievances? Emotions? The discussions with Carlos, concerning his father in hospital, Carlos’s claims, the fact that Luis went to visit him frequently, was mistaken for his son?
10. Carlos, buoyant, his role in the company, entertaining clients? His claims to be necessary for the company? The clashes with Luis, the personal stories? Moods?
11. Vero, her role in the setting up of the company, withdrawing to run the hotel, the relationship with Marcel, the different attitudes towards the intervention? The attacks on her? Her anger, expose of Marcel
12. The mediator, his skills, knowing when to speak, when to be silent, when to be objective, throwing back the decisions to the members? His reaction to the emotional responses? Prepared to leave? The discussions about his contract, the sums? His being fair, giving everybody their opportunity, whittling down from the draw to having only two in contention?
13. The final direction of the discussion, Luis and 51% of the company and going to jail, shares, buying up shares? And the group turning on Marcel?
14. The final decision, Marcel and his acceptance? The phone call and the bribing of the official, the company safe?
15. The final credits, the mediator, getting the taxi, the focus on his face during the ride, giving the opportunity for the audience to assess each of the members, their behaviour, their attitudes, and for the audience to check which of the four they would have voted for to go to prison?