The Wolf (2004 film)

{{Short description|Film by Miguel Courtois}} {{redirect|El Lobo|the fictional tango dancer|Melvin Frohike}} {{more citations needed|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox film | native_name = {{Infobox name module|es|El Lobo|nolink=yes}} | caption = Theatrical release poster | image = The Wolf FilmPoster.jpeg | director = Miguel Courtois | producer = | writer = Antonio Onetti | narrator = | starring = {{ubl|Eduardo Noriega|José Coronado|Mélanie Doutey|José Coronado|Silvia Abascal|Santiago Ramos|Jorge Sanz}} | music = | cinematography = | editing = | distributor = | released = {{Film date|2004|11|5|Spain|df=yes}} | runtime = 134 minutes | country = Spain | language = Spanish | budget = | gross = }}

'''''The Wolf''''' ({{langx|es|'''El Lobo'''|links=no}}) is a 2004 Spanish drama biographical film directed by Miguel Courtois. It stars Eduardo Noriega as the title character and José Coronado alongside Mélanie Doutey, Silvia Abascal, Santiago Ramos, and Jorge Sanz.

==Plot== The film is based on the life of Mikel Lejarza (alias 'El Lobo'), an agent of the Spanish intelligence service in the early 1970s. During the last rales of the Francoist dictatorship, Lejarza infiltrated ETA, a paramilitary group seeking independence for the Basque Country.

He obstructed plans for a major prison breakout and a campaign of attacks. The secret services tried to demobilise him when he became less useful. However, he pursued his mission nevertheless, which became the most successful government initiative against ETA. Information he provided was responsible for the capture or killing of a quarter of ETA members, including some of its 'Special Forces' members and leaders. He destabilized the organization when it was a potential justification for conservatives to seize power and stop the democratisation process.

ETA sentenced him to death and posted his pictures throughout the Basque Country, in the hope of someone reporting his whereabouts. Mikel changed his name and face and has lived under an assumed identity ever since.

==Cast== {{Cast listing| * Eduardo Noriega as El Lobo * José Coronado as Ricardo * Mélanie Doutey as Amaia * Silvia Abascal as Begoña * Santiago Ramos as Pantxo * Patrick Bruel as Nelson * Jorge Sanz as Asier * Manuel Zarzo as Matías }}

==Accolades== {{Awards table|5}} |- | rowspan = "7" align = "center" | 2005 || rowspan = "5" | 19th Goya Awards || Best Actor || Eduardo Noriega || {{nom}} || rowspan = "5" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.premiosgoya.com/pelicula/el-lobo/|website=premiosgoya.com|access-date=23 April 2023|title=El Lobo|publisher=Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España}}</ref> |- | Best Supporting Actress || Silvia Abascal || {{nom}} |- | Best Production Supervision || Cristina Zumárraga, Miguel Torrente || {{nom}} |- | Best Editing || Guillermo S. Maldonado || {{won}} |- | Best Special Effects || Jesús Pascual, Ramón Lorenzo, Reyes Abades || {{won}} |- | rowspan = "2" | 14th Actors and Actresses Union Awards || Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role || Silvia Abascal || {{nom}} || rowspan = "2" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2005/03/15/cultura/1110881813.html|website=elmundo.es|date=15 March 2005|title='Mar adentro' también acapara las candidaturas de la Unión de Actores}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2005/06/21/cultura/1119312678.html|website=El Mundo|date=21 June 2005|title='Aquí no hay quien viva', 'Mar adentro' y 'Yo Claudio' vencen en los Premios de la Unión de Actores}}</ref> |- | Best Film Actor in a Minor Role || Santiago Ramos || {{nom}} |}

== See also == * List of Spanish films of 2004

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=0385842|title=El Lobo}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolf, The}} Category:2004 films Category:2004 thriller films Category:Spanish drama films Category:2004 Spanish-language films Category:Thriller films based on actual events Category:Films set in Spain Category:Films about ETA (separatist group) Category:Films directed by Miguel Courtois Category:2004 Spanish films Category:Basque conflict films