Lluís Miñarro on ‘Emergency Exit’ and the Art of Cinematic Escape
Acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Lluís Miñarro, known for his visually poetic and politically charged work, opens up about his latest film, Emergency Exit, his formative years in 1970s Barcelona, and his unexpected journey to producing Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Palme d’Or winner, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.
‘Emergency Exit’: A Surreal Journey Beyond Limits
Premiering at Cannes Film Festival, Emergency Exit is a hypnotic exploration of freedom, following an office worker who discovers a hidden door to another reality.
“The film mirrors my own frustrations with rigid systems—whether political, corporate, or personal,” Miñarro shares. “Spain’s transition from Franco’s dictatorship left lingering constraints. This film is about breaking free.”
With its dreamlike visuals, critics compare it to Luis Buñuel and David Lynch, but Miñarro credits Japanese cinema, especially Naomi Kawase, as a key influence.
How 1970s Barcelona Shaped His Vision
Growing up in post-Franco Barcelona, Miñarro was immersed in underground cinema and political rebellion.
“We screened banned films in basements,” he recalls. “That era taught me how art can challenge power.”
His early work, like Stories from the Kronen (1995), captured Barcelona’s raw youth culture, while later films (Blow Horn, The Fourth Kingdom) blended realism with surrealism.
Naomi Kawase: A Quiet Revolutionary
Miñarro’s admiration for Naomi Kawase (Sweet Bean, The Mourning Forest) stems from her ability to infuse everyday life with spirituality.
“Her films are felt, not just watched. We bonded over ‘slow cinema’—how silence speaks louder than dialogue.”
The Serendipity Behind ‘Uncle Boonmee’
Miñarro’s role as producer on Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Uncle Boonmee (2010) began with a late-night festival conversation.
“We talked ghosts, memory, and reincarnation. When he described the script, I knew it was special—even with a talking catfish!”
The film’s Palme d’Or win proved its transcendent power.
What’s Next? A Spain-Japan Collaboration
Miñarro is developing a Spain-Japan co-production inspired by Kawase, exploring memory and nature.
“Cinema transcends borders. The best stories haunt you long after they end.”
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