{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox film | native_name = {{Infobox name module|es|La buena letra|nolink=yes}} | image = La buena letra poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Celia Rico Clavellino | screenplay = Celia Rico Clavellino | producer = Fernando Bovaira | based_on = {{Based on|''La buena letra''|Rafael Chirbes}} | starring = {{ubl|Loreto Mauleón|Enric Auquer Sardà|Roger Casamajor|Ana Rujas}} | cinematography = Sara Gallego | editing = Andrés Gil | studio = {{ubl|Misent Producciones|MOD Producciones|Arcadia Motion Pictures}} | distributor = Caramel Films | music = Marina Alcantud | country = Spain | language = {{ubl|Spanish|Catalan}} | released = {{Film date|2025|03|15|Málaga|2025|04|30|Spain|df=yes}} }} '''''The Good Manners''''' ({{langx|es|'''La buena letra'''|links=no}}),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sansebastianfestival.com/2025/secciones_y_peliculas/made_in_spain/7/730051/es|website=sansebastianfestival.com|title=La buena letra / The Good Manners|access-date=20 September 2025}}</ref> also known as '''''The Good Handwriting''''',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londonspanishfilmfestival.com/la-buena-letra/|website=London Spanish Film Festival|title=La buena letra|access-date=9 August 2025}}</ref> is a 2025 Spanish historical drama film written and directed by Celia Rico Clavellino based on the novel by Rafael Chirbes. It stars Loreto Mauleón, Enric Auquer, Roger Casamajor, and Ana Rujas.
== Plot == Set in a Valencian village against the backdrop of the austerity of the post-War period, the plot tracks the plight of Ana and her family, as the Civil War have left them deeply wounded.<ref name="cineuropa">{{Cite web|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/463853/|website=Cineuropa|date=24 June 2024|title=Celia Rico adapts Rafael Chirbes' novel La buena letra|first=Alfonso|last=Rivera}}</ref> Muddling through work despite being in the vanquished side of the War, Ana and her husband Tomás protect Tomás' mother's psyche by delivering her letters impersonating the latter's younger son Antonio (reported missing), written by Ana imitating Antonio's calligraphy so the old woman believes her son is in exile in Argentina. With Antonio's eventual show up and his engagement to Isabel, the family fabric is shattered, as Ana sees her brother-in-law prosper without working hard and by making deals with Francoists.<ref name="rtve" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elespanol.com/el-cultural/cine/20250315/thriller-desahucios-daniel-guzman-inaugura-festival-malaga-brilla-celia-rico/931406853_0.html|website=El Cultural|via=El Español|title=El 'thriller' sobre desahucios de Daniel Guzmán inaugura un Festival de Málaga en el que brilla Celia Rico|date=15 March 2025|first=Enric|last=Albero}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cineconn.es/critica-de-la-buena-letra-celia-rico-loreto-mauleon/|website=Cine con Ñ|title=Celia Rico y Loreto Mauleón hacen de la contención virtud en 'La buena letra' para retratar a una generación de mujeres|first=Jose A.|last=Cano|date=15 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2025/03/15/malaga-2025-celia-rico-revive-a-chirbes-con-la-buena-letra-una-historia-contra-los-silencios-de-la-posguerra-cadena-ser/|website=Cadena SER|first1=P|last1=Blanes|first2=Jose M.|last2=Romero|title=Málaga 2025 {{!}} Celia Rico revive a Chirbes con 'La buena letra', una historia contra los silencios de la posguerra|date=15 March 2025}}</ref>
== Cast == {{Cast listing| * Loreto Mauleón as Ana<ref name="cineuropa" /> * Enric Auquer as Antonio<ref name="cineuropa" /> * Roger Casamajor as Tomás<ref name="rtve">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20250315/celia-rico-presenta-buena-letra-durante-dictadura-mujer-solo-podia-cocinar-coser-callar/16492323.shtml|website=rtve.es|title=Celia Rico presenta 'La buena letra': "Durante la dictadura la mujer solo podía cocinar, coser y callar"|date=15 March 2025|first=Jesús|last=Jiménez}}</ref> * Ana Rujas as Isabel<ref name="cineuropa" /> * Teresa Lozano as María<ref name="aisge">{{cite web|url=https://www.aisge.es/los-estrenos-del-30-de-abril-la-buena-letra|website=Aisge|title=os estrenos del 30 de abril. 'La buena letra'. Mujeres invisibles|date=28 April 2025|first=Alberto|last=Úbeda-Portugués}}</ref> * Gloria March as Concha<ref name="aisge" /> * Sofía Puerta as Anita<ref name="aisge" /> }}
== Production == The film is a Misent Producciones, MOD Producciones, and Arcadia Motion Pictures production, with the participation of RTVE, Movistar Plus+, and 3Cat and À Punt, and funding from ICAA, ICEC, and IVC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kinotico.es/actualidad/2024-06-06/celia-rico-clavellino-rueda-ya-su-tercera-pelicula-buena-letra-adaptacion-rafael-chirbes|website=Kinótico|title=Celia Rico Clavellino rueda ya su tercera película: 'La buena letra', adaptación de Rafael Chirbes|date=6 June 2024|first=Daniel|last=Mantilla}}</ref><ref name="cineuropa" /> Sara Gallego served as director of photography, using an Alexa 35.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cameraandlightmag.com/noticias/se-esta-rodando-en-valencia-la-buena-letra-nuevo-largometraje-de-celia-rico/|website=Camera & Light Mag|title=Se está rodando en Valencia 'La buena letra', nuevo largometraje de Celia Rico|date=6 June 2024}}</ref> Shooting locations in the Valencian Community included Petrés and Segorbe.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chirbes, cámara y acción: Empieza en Petrés el rodaje de "La buena letra"|publisher=Prensa Ibérica|date=12 May 2024|first=Voro|last=Contreras|url=https://www.levante-emv.com/cultura/2024/05/12/chirbes-camara-accion-empieza-petres-102198697.html|website=Levante-EMV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://castellon.elperiodicodeaqui.com/epda-noticias/segorbe-de-nuevo-escenario-de-una-pelicula/342882|website=El Periódico de Aquí|date=27 May 2024|title=Segorbe, de nuevo escenario de una película}}</ref> It features dialogue in Spanish and Valencian (Catalan).<ref name="caramel" />
== Release == thumb|left|Celia Rico at the red carpet of the 28th Málaga Film Festival on 15 March 2025 The film was presented at the 28th Málaga Film Festival on 15 March 2025 in competition for the Golden Biznaga.<ref>{{Cite web|website=Fotogramas|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/festival-de-malaga/a63616700/festival-de-malaga-2025-seccion-oficial-programacion/|title=El Festival de Málaga 2025 presenta su primer avance con Gemma Blasco, Belén Funes, Eva Libertad, Gracia Querejeta y Celia Rico|date=30 January 2025|first=Fran|last=Chico|language=es|access-date=30 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/andalucia/malaga-00356/noticia-buena-letra-asoma-traumas-posguerra-cuidados-festival-malaga-20250315121648.html|website=Europa Press|title='La buena letra' se asoma a los traumas de la posguerra desde los cuidados en el Festival de Málaga|date=15 March 2025}}</ref> It also made it to the non-competitive strand of the 9th BCN Film Fest's official selection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2025/03/31/ralph-fiennes-se-suma-a-richard-gere-como-estrella-invitada-del-proximo-bcn-film-fest/|website=Infobae|date=31 March 2025|title=Ralph Fiennes se suma a Richard Gere como estrella invitada del próximo BCN Film Fest}}</ref> It is scheduled to be released theatrically in Spain on 30 April 2025 by Caramel Films.<ref name="caramel">{{Cite web|url=https://www.caramelfilms.es/catalogo/la-buena-letra/|access-date=26 December 2024|title=La buena letra|website=Caramel Films}}</ref><ref name="cineuropa" />
== Reception == Elsa Fernández-Santos of ''El País'' assessed that Rico nails the adaptation of Chirbes' work, from the simplicity and emotion of the film's script to the careful direction of actors.<ref>{{Cite web|website=El País|first=Elsa|last=Fernández-Santos|date=30 April 2025|title='La buena letra': Celia Rico borda la caligrafía invisible de la posguerra|url=https://elpais.com/cultura/2025-04-30/la-buena-letra-celia-rico-borda-la-caligrafia-invisible-de-la-posguerra.html}}</ref>
Reviewing in ''La Razón'', Sergi Sánchez rated the film 4½ out of 5 stars, praising "the sensitivity of Rico's gaze, the powerful female portrayal and the work of all the performers".<ref>{{Cite web|first=Sergi|last=Sánchez|url=https://www.larazon.es/cultura/critica-buena-letra-caligrafia-intimo-guerra-civil-12_202504306811dc11e52da91ed533e395.html|title=Crítica de "La buena letra": caligrafía de lo íntimo en la Guerra Civil ★★★★ 1/2|website=La Razón}}</ref>
Raquel Hernández Luján of ''HobbyConsolas'' gave the film 85 points ('very good') summing up the film as "a small masterpiece that transcends costumbrismo to deliver a precise and precious audiovisual piece", also writing about a "sublime" Mauleón.<ref>{{Cite web|website=HobbyConsolas|url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reviews/critica-buena-letra-delicado-drama-cargado-subtexto-loreto-mauleon-sublime-1458157|date=30 April 2025|title=Crítica de La buena letra, un delicado drama cargado de subtexto con una Loreto Mauleón sublime|first=Raquel|last=Hernández Luján}}</ref>
Philipp Engel of ''Cinemanía'' rated the film 3½ stars, writing that "the intimate and the political are once again skillfully intertwined, and the cast is also quite appropriate", while noting that "the tragic end prevents the epiphany".<ref>{{Cite web|website=Cinemanía|via=20minutos.es|date=29 April 2025|first=Philipp|last=Engel|title=Crítica de 'La buena letra': lo íntimo y lo político vuelven a quedar hábilmente entrelazados|url=https://www.20minutos.es/cinemania/criticas/critica-buena-letra-5704954/}}</ref>
== Accolades == {{Awards table|5}} |- | rowspan = "5" | {{center|2025}} | rowspan = "5" | 8th Lola Gaos Awards | colspan = "2" | Best Film || {{nom}} || rowspan = "5" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kinotico.es/actualidad/2025-11-15/palmares-avelina-prat-reina-viii-premios-lola-gaos-siete-estatuillas-quinta-portuguesa|date=15 November 2025|first=Daniel|last=Mantilla|first2=Luis|last2=Fernández|website=Kinótico|title=Avelina Prat reina en los Premios Lola Gaos con siete estatuillas para 'Una quinta portuguesa'}}</ref> |- | Best Screenplay || Celia Rico || {{nom}} |- | Best Costume Design || Giovanna Ribes || {{nom}} |- | Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Esther Guillem, Pilar Guillem || {{won}} |- | Best Production Supervision || Lorena Lluch || {{won}} |- | rowspan = "4" | {{center|2026}} | rowspan = "2" | 5th Carmen Awards | Best Director || Celia Rico || {{nom}} | rowspan = "2" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kinotico.es/actualidad/2026-02-01/alberto-rodriguez-se-reivindica-sus-10-galardones-para-tigres-premios-carmen-2026|website=Kinótico|title=Alberto Rodríguez se reivindica con sus 10 galardones para 'Los Tigres' en los Premios Carmen|date=1 February 2026}}</ref> |- | Best Adapted Screenplay || Celia Rico || {{nom}} |- | 18th Gaudí Awards || Best Adapted Screenplay || Celia Rico || {{nom}} || <ref>{{Cite web|website=3CatInfo|url=https://www.3cat.cat/3catinfo/els-premis-gaudi-sentreguen-avui-amb-romeria-sirat-i-sorda-com-a-favorites/noticia/3393428/|first=Virgínia|last=Arqué Nueno|date=8 February 2026|title=En marxa la gala dels Premis Gaudí: Bruna Cusí i Álvaro Cervantes, millors intèrprets secundaris}}</ref> |- | 40th Goya Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay || Celia Rico Clavellino || {{nom}} || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.20minutos.es/cinemania/noticias/premios-goya-2026-palmares-ganadores-directo_6939905_0.html|website=Cinemanía|via=20minutos.es|title=Palmarés Premios Goya 2026: lista completa con todos los ganadores, en directo|date=1 March 2026|language=es|access-date=1 March 2026}}</ref> |- {{end}}
== See also == * List of Spanish films of 2025
== References == {{reflist}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Good Manner, The}} Category:2025 Spanish-language films Category:2025 Spanish films Category:2025 drama films Category:2025 films Category:2020s historical drama films Category:2025 historical films Category:Arcadia Motion Pictures films Category:MOD Producciones films Category:Films shot in the Province of Valencia Category:Films shot in the Province of Castellón Category:Spanish historical drama films Category:Films set in the 20th century Category:Films set in the Valencian Community Category:Films based on Spanish novels Category:Films about brothers