{{For|the Paris Commune revolutionary|Louise Michel}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox film | image = The Red Virgin.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | native_name = {{Infobox name module|language=es|title=La virgen roja|nolink=yes}} | director = Paula Ortiz | producer = {{ubl|María Zamora|Stefan Schmitz}} | screenplay = {{ubl|Eduard Sola|Clara Roquet}} | starring = {{ubl|Najwa Nimri|Alba Planas|Aixa Villagrán|Patrick Criado|Pepe Viyuela}} | cinematography = Pedro J. Márquez | editing = Pablo Gómez-Pan | country = {{ubl|United States|Spain}} | music = Juanma Latorre{{-}}Guille Galván | studio = {{ubl|Amazon MGM Studios|Elastica Films|Avalon PC}} | distributor = Elastica ({{Smallcaps|{{Tooltip|es|Spain}}}}) | released = {{Film date|2024|09|22|Zinemaldia|2024|09|27|Spain|df=yes}} | language = Spanish }} '''''The Red Virgin'''''<ref>{{Cite tweet |user= AmazonMGMStudio|number=1803842867107872831 |title=She was meant to be someone important. #TheRedVirgin, based on the real story of Hildegart Rodríguez, coming soon to theaters.}}</ref> ({{langx|es|'''La virgen roja'''|links=no}})<ref name="heraldo">{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/ocio-y-cultura/2024/06/20/paula-ortiz-nueva-pelicula-mes-estreno-1743193.html|website=Heraldo de Aragón|title=La nueva película de Paula Ortiz con Najwa Nimri ya tiene mes de estreno|date=20 June 2024}}</ref> is a 2024 biographical drama film directed by Paula Ortiz from a screenplay by Eduard Sola and Clara Roquet. It stars Najwa Nimri and Alba Planas as respectively Aurora and Hildegart Rodríguez. Set during the Second Spanish Republic and based on a real-life story, the plot follows the tortuous relationship between a child prodigy, pundit on female sexuality and lodestar of sexual revolution (Planas) and her obsessive mother (Nimri), who groomed her and keeps her under a tight grip. Patrick Criado, Aixa Villagrán, and Pepe Viyuela appear in supporting roles.
The film is a United States-Spain co-production by Amazon MGM Studios alongside Elastica Films and Avalon PC. It world premiered at the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival on 22 September 2024, ahead of its 27 September 2024 theatrical release in Spain by Elastica. It was nominated for nine Goya Awards (including Best Director).
== Plot == An affluent woman, Aurora Rodríguez, copulates with a clergyman. The result is the birth of Hildegart, who Aurora homeschools and grooms to become a girl prodigy able to change the world.
In 1931 Madrid, against the backdrop of the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic, Aurora and 16-year-old Hildegart go to the editorial office of a newspaper to seek the publication of a piece on female sexuality by Hildegart, needing to convince the editor, Guzmán, that it was actually written by the teenager.
Hildegart is introduced to Socialist activist Abel Vilella who shows a keen interest in her. Hildegart and Aurora live in a well-off apartment together with maid Macarena while Hildegart continues her training. Due to her successful writing, Hildegart also corresponds with Havelock Ellis. Macarena provides Aurora with a gun due to the menace posed by misogynistic graffiti appearing on the wall of the staircase landing and reveals to Hildegart that Aurora had only loved a man (as a son) in her whole life, her nephew Pepe, of whom Hildegart knows nothing. Hildegart and Abel meet again during a meeting of socialists in which Hildegart delivers an impassioned speech supporting women rights and participation in politics as well as during a signing session of her book, after which Hildegart falls for Abel. As Hildegart secretly confesses her infatuation with Abel to Macarena, Aurora overhears from behind the door and plots to separate the two young love birds, determined not to let Hildegart stray away from her purpose.
Aurora receives a letter of invitation to a piano concert by her nephew and music prodigy Pepe Arriola, who was also groomed by Aurora and was separated from her before she decided to embark on Project Hildegart. She meets him after the concert backstage and finds out that she was not actually invited by him, and the whole thing was a ruse so Hildegart could have a date with Abel free from the maternal surveillance. Aurora invites Abel to dinner, and Abel and Hildegart tell her about their disenchantment with the Socialist party ranks and their interest in the positions of the Federal Party, which Aurora deems to boast an anarchist stance. Police agents break into the room and arrest Abel on charges of being a serial rapist and feminicide. To Hildegart's despair, Macarena is replaced by another maid. It is eventually revealed to Hildegart that Aurora had blackmailed Macarena into framing Abel for the crimes that were actually committed by Macarena's husband.
Hildegart visits Macarena's humble residence and threatens to frame her as an accomplice to the crimes unless she clears Abel's name of her own volition. With help from Guzmán, Hildegart manages to get a travel ticket to London and convinces Abel to go with her. During a family dinner, Hildegart tells her mother that she is a woman free from anyone, says good night and leaves the room. Aurora acknowledges that Project Hildegart has failed, gets the gun, goes to Hildegart's bedroom and shoots her daughter through the crotch, through the chest, and finally, through the forehead. Hildegart's dead body is paraded in a glass casket through the streets of Madrid under the twilight.
== Cast == {{Cast listing| * Najwa Nimri as Aurora<ref name="hobbyconsolas">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/noticias/najwa-nimri-alba-planas-protagonizaran-hildegart-nueva-pelicula-prime-video-1260526|website=HobbyConsolas|date=14 June 2023|first=José Carlos|last=Pozo|title=Najwa Nimri y Alba Planas protagonizarán Hildegart, la nueva película de Prime Video basada en hechos reales}}</ref> * Alba Planas as Hildegart<ref name="hobbyconsolas" /> * Aixa Villagrán as Macarena<ref name="infobae" /> * Patrick Criado as Abel Vilella<ref name="infobae" /> * Pepe Viyuela as Eduardo de Guzmán<ref name="pando" /> }}
== Production == thumb|Ateneo de Madrid was the location for the Socialist meetings.|alt=Photograph of a room. The wall is covered in portraits of the same size and dark wood. There are old-style chairs. [[File:Calle Alcalá (5106218870).jpg|thumb|The start of calle Alcalá from Puerta del Sol is the location of the funeral parade. Photo from 2010.|alt=Photograph of 4 6-floor façades by a two-way street. 4 white people in autumn clothes walk on the pavement.]] The screenplay was written by Eduard Sola and Clara Roquet.{{Refn|group=n.|The tortuous relationship between Aurora and Hildegart was previously dealt with in several works of fiction,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cineconn.es/hildegart-pelicula-prime-video-paula-ortiz/|website=Cine con Ñ|title=Najwa Nimri y Alba Planas protagonizarán 'Hildegart', la película de Paula Ortiz sobre Hildegart Rodríguez|date=14 June 2023}}</ref> including the feature film ''My Daughter Hildegart'' (1977) directed by Fernando Fernán Gómez (starring Amparo Soler Leal and Carmen Roldán) and the short film ''The Red Virgin'' (2011) directed by Sheyla Pye (starring Maribel Verdú and Ivana Baquero).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cineconn.es/aurora-rodriguez-carballeira-frankestein-hildegart/|date=14 October 2020|title=Aurora Rodríguez Carballeira: versiones cinematográficas de la madre de Frankenstein|website=Cine con Ñ}}</ref>}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/espana/2023/06/14/nawja-nimri-y-alba-planas-protagonizaran-hildegart-la-pelicula-de-paula-ortiz-sobre-la-nina-prodigio-de-la-espana-de-los-anos-30/|website=Infobae|first=Cynthia|last=Serna Box|title=Nawja Nimri y Alba Planas protagonizarán 'Hildegart', la película de Paula Ortiz sobre la niña prodigio de la España de los años 30|date=14 June 2023}}</ref> An Amazon MGM Studios, Elastica, and Avalon production,<ref name="a451">{{Cite web|url=https://www.audiovisual451.com/paula-ortiz-dirigira-a-nawja-nimri-y-alba-planas-en-hildegart-nuevo-largometraje-original-de-prime-video/|website=Audiovisual451|title=Paula Ortiz dirigirá a Nawja Nimri y Alba Planas en 'Hildegart', nuevo largometraje original de Prime Video|date=14 June 2023}}</ref> the project, then titled ''Hildegart'', was disclosed by Amazon Prime Video at the 'Prime Video Presents España' event in April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elespanol.com/series/amazon-prime-video/20230425/amazon-anuncia-hildegart-pelicula-paula-ortiz-basada-caso-real-mujer-futuro/758924353_0.html|website=El Español|date=25 April 2023|title=Amazon anuncia 'Hildegart', la película de Paula Ortiz basada en el caso real de "la mujer del futuro"}}</ref> The platform pitched the film as a mix of "historical drama, romance, thriller and a touch of true crime".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/ocio-y-cultura/2023/04/25/paula-ortiz-pelicula-hildegart-1647407.html|website=Heraldo de Aragón|date=25 April 2023|title=Paula Ortiz rodará una película sobre la trágica historia de la 'hija perfecta' Hildegart|first=Francisco|last=Paniagua}}</ref> Main cast additions including Najwa Nimri, Alba Planas, Patrick Criado, Aixa Villagrán and Pepe Viyuela were announced on 14 June 2023.<ref name="infobae">{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/espana/2023/06/14/najwa-nimri-y-alba-planas-protagonizaran-la-hildegart-de-paula-ortiz/|website=Infobae|title=Najwa Nimri y Alba Planas protagonizarán la "Hildegart" de Paula Ortiz|date=14 June 2023}}</ref> Shooting had already begun by July 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/noticias-cine/a44490430/najwa-nimri-provocador-look-pelicula-hildegart/|website=Fotogramas|date=10 July 2023|title=Primer vistazo al provocador look de Najwa Nimri en 'Hildegart', la nueva película de Paula Ortiz|first=Fran|last=Chico}}</ref> Production wrapped on 19 August 2023.<ref name="sandoval">{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/hildegart-rodriguez-prime-video-najwa-nimri-1235702807/|website=Variety|first=Pablo|last=Sandoval|title=Sexual Revolution Pioneer Tale 'Hildegart' Wraps Production for Amazon Studios (Exclusive)|date=23 August 2023}}</ref> Shooting locations in Madrid included the Congress, Puerta del Sol, and Ateneo de Madrid.<ref name="sandoval" />
The score was composed by Vetusta Morla members Juanma Latorre and Guille Galván, also including the song "La virgen roja" by Maria Arnal.<ref>{{Cite web|website=El Periódico de España|publisher=Prensa Ibérica|url=https://www.epe.es/es/cultura/20241003/canciones-escuchar-semana-larking-poe-maria-arnal-vivaldi-jakub-orlinski-marina-reche-vicente-calderon-maren-108864879|title=Las 9 canciones que tienes que escuchar este fin de semana|date=3 October 2024|first=Jacobo de|last=Arce|first2=Pedro del|last2=Corral|first3=Ángeles|last3=Castellano}}</ref>
== Release == Selected for a special screening in the official selection of the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/ester-exposito-iciar-bollain-paula-palomero-1236068653/|website=Variety|first1=John|last1=Hopewell|first2=Jamie|last2=Lang|title=San Sebastian Unveils Spanish Titles, Led by an Ester Expósito Chiller, New Pics From Albert Serra, Iciar Bollaín, Pilar Palomero|date=12 July 2024}}</ref> ''The Red Virgin'' was presented on 22 September 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|website=ABC|url=https://www.abc.es/play/cine/imagenes-pelicula-virgen-roja-20240922132416-vi.html|title=Imágenes de la película "La virgen roja"|date=22 September 2024}}</ref> The film was released theatrically in Spain on 27 September 2024 by Elastica.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kinotico.es/actualidad/2024-06-20/elastica-estrenara-cines-virgen-roja-paula-ortiz|website=Kinótico|title=Elastica estrenará en cines 'La virgen roja' de Paula Ortiz antes de su llegada a Prime Video|date=20 June 2024|first=Francesc|last=Miró}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldiario.es/vertele/noticias/prime-video-anuncia-proximas-series-espanolas-confirma-temporada-3-reina-roja-estrenar-segunda_1_11511298.html|website=vertele!|via=eldiario.es|title=Prime Video anuncia sus próximas series españolas y confirma la ¡temporada 3! de 'Reina Roja' antes de estrenar la segunda|date=9 July 2024|first=Laura|last=Pérez}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telva.com/cultura/2024/09/29/66f6948a02136eaf768b45a1.html|website=Telva|title=Paula Ortiz, directora de La virgen roja: «Los hijos no son nuestros, sino del mundo»|date=29 September 2024|first=Begoña|last=Donat}}</ref>
== Reception == {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|100|8.0|10|ref=yes|access-date=11 March 2025}}
{{ill|Juan Pando (film critic)|es|Juan Pando Marcos|lt=Juan Pando}} of ''Fotogramas'' rated the film 5 out of 5 stars, highlighting Najwa Nimri as "she alone fills the whole film" as the best thing about it.<ref name="pando">{{Cite web|website=Fotogramas|date=22 September 2024|first=Juan|last=Pando|title=Crítica de 'La virgen roja': una superlativa Najwa Nimri deslumbra en el cuento gótico de Paula Ortiz, su mejor película hasta la fecha|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/peliculas-criticas/a62314347/la-virgen-roja-critica-pelicula-najwa-nimri-paula-ortiz/}}</ref>
Raquel Hernández Luján of ''HobbyConsolas'' gave the film 75 points ('good'), mentioning the visual allegories, the care with the mise-en-scène and the quality of the performances as the film's best.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reviews/critica-virgen-roja-paula-ortiz-ficciona-increible-historia-hildegart-rodriguez-1406211|title=Crítica de La virgen roja: Paula Ortiz ficciona la increíble historia de Hildegart Rodríguez|date=23 September 2024|first=Raquel|last=Hernández Luján|website=HobbyConsolas}}</ref>
Rubén Romero Santos of ''Cinemanía'' rated the film 3½ out of 5 stars, writing that the film "dialogues with the present through the director's usual aestheticizing gaze", carrying in the ending "one of the best and most ambitious scenes of the year".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.20minutos.es/cinemania/criticas/critica-virgen-roja-5637423/|first=Rubén|last=Romero Santos|title=Crítica de 'La virgen roja': una Ortiz más manifiestamente feminista que nunca|date=26 September 2024|website=Cinemanía|via=20minutos.es}}</ref>
Javier Ocaña of ''El País'' wrote that the film "is artistically impeccable in all areas" and brings in "the sum of great production and an elegant mise-en-scène".<ref>{{Cite web|title='La virgen roja': Paula Ortiz retrata con poderío a la madre y la hija más fascinantes de la historia española|author-link=Javier Ocaña|first=Javier|last=Ocaña|date=27 September 2024|url=https://elpais.com/cultura/2024-09-27/la-virgen-roja-paula-ortiz-retrata-con-poderio-a-la-madre-y-la-hija-mas-fascinantes-de-la-historia-espanola.html|website=El País}}</ref>
== Accolades == thumb|upright=0.66|Javier Alvariño holding his Goya Award for Best Art Direction at the 39th Goya Awards {{Awards table|5}} |- | {{center|2024}} | 30th Forqué Awards || Best Actress in a Film || Najwa Nimri || {{nom}} || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.20minutos.es/cinemania/noticias/palmares-completo-los-premios-forque-2024-5663985/|website=Cinemanía|via=20minutos.es|title=Palmarés completo de los Premios Forqué 2024: 'El 47' y 'Querer' hacen pleno y ganan en el 30 aniversario|first=Enrique|last=Abenia|date=14 December 2024}}</ref> |- | rowspan = "27" | {{center|2025}} | rowspan = "5" | 12th Feroz Awards || Best Director || Paula Ortiz || {{nom}} || rowspan = "5" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.es/articulos/premios-feroz-2025-lista-ganadores|website=Vogue|first=María|last=Munsuri|title=Premios Feroz 2025: lista completa de ganadores|date=26 January 2025}}</ref> |- | Best Main Actress in a Film || Najwa Nimri || {{nom}} |- | Best Supporting Actress in a Film || Aixa Villagrán || {{nom}} |- | Best Screenplay in a Film || Eduard Sola, Clara Roquet || {{nom}} |- | Best Trailer || Marta Longás, Jesús Fernández García || {{nom}} |- | rowspan = "8" | 80th CEC Medals || colspan = "2" | Best Film || {{nom}} || rowspan = "8" | <ref>{{Cite web|website=Kinótico|url=https://kinotico.es/actualidad/2025-02-03/la-infiltrada-triunfa-medallas-cec-y-logra-su-primera-victoria-lejos-taquilla-y-justo-antes-goya|date=3 February 2025|title='La infiltrada' triunfa en las Medallas CEC y logra su primera victoria lejos de la taquilla justo antes de los Premios Goya}}</ref> |- | Best Director || Paula Ortiz || {{nom}} |- | Best Original Screenplay || Clara Roquet, Eduard Sola || {{nom}} |- | Best Actress || Najwa Nimri || {{nom}} |- | Best Supporting Actress || Aixa Villagrán || {{won}} |- | Best Cinematography || Pedro J. Márquez || {{won}} |- | Best Editing || Pablo Gómez Pan || {{nom}} |- | Best Music || Guille Galván, Juanma Latorre || {{nom}} |- | rowspan = "9" | 39th Goya Awards || Best Director || Paula Ortiz || {{nom}} || rowspan = "9" | <ref>{{Cite web|website=Fotogramas|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/premios-goya/a63699216/premios-goya-2025-ganadores-lista-completa/|title=Ganadores de los Premios Goya 2025: 'El 47' y Eduard Fernández triunfan en una noche insólita para el cine español|date=9 February 2025|first=Ricardo|last=Rosado}}</ref> |- | Best Supporting Actress || Aixa Villagrán || {{nom}} |- | Best Original Song || "La virgen roja" by Maria Arnal || {{nom}} |- | Best Art Direction || Javier Alvariño || {{won}} |- | Best Costume Design || Arantxa Ezquerro || {{won}} |- | Best Makeup and Hairstyles || Eli Adánez, Paco Rodríguez Frías || {{nom}} |- | Best Sound || Coque F. Lahera, Álex F Capilla & Nacho Royo-Villanova || {{nom}} |- | Best Special Effects || Raúl Romanillos, Juanma Nogales || {{nom}} |- | Best Production Supervision || Kati Martí Donoghue || {{nom}} |- | rowspan = "4" | 33rd Actors and Actresses Union Awards || Best Film Actress in a Leading Role || Najwa Nimri || {{nom}} || rowspan = "4" | <ref>{{Cite web|website=Kinótico|url=https://kinotico.es/actualidad/2025-03-10/karla-sofia-gascon-se-redime-espana-premio-33-union-actores|title=Karla Sofía Gascón se redime en España con un premio en la 33 edición de la Unión de Actores|date=10 March 2025|first=Daniel|last=Mantilla}}</ref> |- | Best Film Actress in a Secondary Role || Aixa Villagrán || {{nom}} |- | Best Film Actor in a Secondary Role || Patrick Criado || {{won}} |- | Best New Actress || Alba Planas || {{nom}} |- | 12th Platino Awards || Best Art Direction || Javier Alvariño || {{nom}} || <ref>{{Cite web|website=Vogue|url=https://www.vogue.mx/articulo/premios-platino-2025-nominados|title=Nominados a los Premios Platino 2025: Lista completa|first=Miguel|last=Vicencio|date=14 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latercera.com/culto/noticia/premios-platino-2025-el-dominio-de-aun-estoy-aqui-y-la-alegria-del-chileno-vinko-tomicic/|title=Premios Platino 2025: el dominio de Aún Estoy Aquí y la alegría del chileno Vinko Tomicic|website=La Tercera|first=Gonzalo|last=Valdivia|date=April 28, 2025|accessdate=April 30, 2025|language=es}}</ref> |}
== See also == * List of Spanish films of 2024
== Notes == {{reflist|group=n.}}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|27599713}}
Category:2024 Spanish-language films Category:2024 American films Category:2024 Spanish films Category:2024 crime thriller films Category:2024 films Category:2020s historical drama films Category:2024 historical films Category:2020s coming-of-age films Category:Films set in Madrid Category:Films set in 1933 Category:Spanish coming-of-age drama films Category:Spanish crime thriller films Category:Spanish historical drama films Category:Avalon films Category:Films about mother–daughter relationships Category:Films shot in Madrid Category:Films about filicide Category:American historical drama films Category:American coming-of-age drama films Category:American crime thriller films Category:Amazon MGM Studios films Category:Spanish biographical drama films Category:American biographical drama films Category:2024 biographical drama films Category:Films produced by María Zamora Category:Elastica Films films {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Red Virgin, The}}