Better Class (Spanish: Altas capacidades) is a 2026 comedy-drama film directed by Víctor García León and co-written by Borja Cobeaga. Its cast features Israel Elejalde and Marian Álvarez along with Juan Diego Botto, Natalia Reyes, Suso Nanclares, and Pilar Castro.
| Better Class | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Spanish | Altas capacidades |
| Directed by | Víctor García León |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Eva Díaz Iglesias |
| Edited by | Buster Franco |
| Music by | Camila Rodríguez |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | BTeam Pictures |
Release dates |
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| Countries |
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| Language | Spanish |
The film premiered at the 29th Málaga Film Festival ahead ot its 27 March 2026 theatrical release in Spain by BTeam Pictures.
Plot
editThe plot follows a middle class couple formed by Alicia and Gonzalo who see the opportunity of enrolling their son Fer on a prestigious secular school, thereby promoting their social clout to the upper class, although they pretend to do it for the boy's future.[1]
Cast
edit- Israel Elejalde as Gonzalo[2]
- Marian Álvarez as Alicia[2]
- Juan Diego Botto as Domingo[2]
- Natalia Reyes as Paz[3]
- Pilar Castro as Mar[3]
- Suso Nanclares as Fer[4]
Production
editThe film is a Buenapinta Media (Marisa Fernández Armenteros), Sayaka Producciones (Nahikari Ipiña), Colosé Producciones (Sandra Hermida), Think Studio (Eneko Lizarraga) and Altas Capacidades Película AIE co-production with Cimarrón (Santiago López), a The Mediapro Studio company.[5] It had the participation of RTVE, Movistar Plus+, and Orange.[5]
Filming began on 10 February 2025.[1] Eva Díaz Iglesias worked as director of photography, using an Arri Alexa 35 camera and Arri Ensō lenses.[6] Shooting locations included a school in La Moraleja.[4]
Release
editThe film was presented in the main competitive section of the 29th Málaga Film Festival in March 2026.[7] Distributed by BTeam Pictures, it was released theatrically in Spain on 27 March 2026.[8][9]
Reception
editEnric Albero of El Cultural found in the film "a dramatic and aesthetic refinement that Spanish film comedy has been renouncing for years", vindicated by the director by "populating the story with ignoble characters" and "emptying it of psychologisms".[2]
Víctor A. Gómez of La Opinión de Málaga lamented that all the characters "come across as unpleasant, but unfortunately not in a likeable, attractive way", although pointing out that Botto nails his character as stylish and suave boss of ultimate bastardry.[10]
Joan Pons of Ara rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, writing that the comedy is "very subtle, has a script that makes you say 'Yes, sir,' and delivers piercing truths with a half-smile".[11]
Raquel Hernández Luján of HobbyConsolas gave the film a 72-point score, determining to be one of those films that "leave you pondering, with a wry smile and a strong sense of unease, because it feels more like reality than fiction", otherwise highlighting a superlative Botto as the best thing about the film.[12]
Beatriz Martínez of Fotogramas rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, declaring it "a magnificent satire that explores public education, ideological clashes, the anxiety surrounding social mobility, and contemporary hypocrisy".[13]
Rubén Romero Santos of Cinemanía rated the film 3½ out of 5 stars, deeming it to be "a chilling, uncomfortable comedy that could easily have been directed by Ruben Östlund".[14]
In a 4-star rating, Luis Martínez of El Mundo assessed that the film "delivers laughters just as easily as it freezes them".[15]
Manuel J. Lombardo of Diario de Sevilla gave the film a 4-star rating, assessing that it reveals a recognisable Spain full of esperpento "without resorting to exaggeration, caricature or distortion".[16]
Guillermo Balbona of El Diario Montañés gave the film a 5-star rating, writing that it excels in "its dialogues and situations, like a finely honed and sharp scalpel, cutting and incisive".[17]
Carlos Boyero of El País assessed that "the satire is believable. And subtle. And nothing feels forced", while also mentioning a "masterful" performance by Botto.[18]
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 Rivera, Alfonso (3 March 2025). "Víctor García León films the comedy-drama Better Class". Cineuropa.
- 1 2 3 4 Albero, Enric (7 March 2026). "'Altas capacidades': Víctor García León abre en canal el festival de Málaga con una afilada comedia negra". El Cultural – via El Español.
- 1 2 Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto (23 March 2026). "Los estrenos del 27 de marzo. 'Altas capacidades'. Familia ambiciosa". Aisge.
- 1 2 Bermejo de la Flor, Laura (2 April 2025). ""Muy pocos en un rodaje ven y escuchan lo que está pasando": Un equipo de Hora 25 se cuela en el final de 'Altas Capacidades', la nueva película de Víctor García León". Cadena SER.
- 1 2 "Víctor García León rueda 'Altas capacidades', una coproducción hispano-uruguaya coescrita con Borja Cobeaga". Audiovisual451.
- ↑ "Arranca el rodaje de 'Altas capacidades', una película dirigida por Víctor García León". Camera and Light Mag. 18 February 2025.
- ↑ Juesas, María (26 January 2026). "El Festival de Málaga 2026 avanza sus primeras películas y anuncia que Carmen Maura inaugurará su Sección Oficial". Fotogramas.
- ↑ Sánchez Sequera, Marco (2 January 2026). "El cine español que se estrenará en 2026". Audiovisual451.
- ↑ "El director Víctor García León, padrino de 'Días de Cine' esta semana". rtve.es. 1 April 2026.
- ↑ Gómez, Víctor A. (7 March 2026). "'Altas capacidades': cuando la farsa se agria". La Opinión de Málaga. Prensa Ibérica.
- ↑ Pons, Joan (23 March 2026). "No tot ha de ser 'Torrente'". Ara.
- ↑ Hernández Luján, Raquel (24 March 2026). "Crítica de Altas capacidades: el laberinto social retratado con tintes de comedia negra". HobbyConsolas.
- ↑ Martínez, Beatriz (25 March 2026). ""Magnífica": La película española que apunta a convertirse en una de las comedias más divertidas y aclamadas del año". Fotogramas.
- ↑ Romero Santos, Rubén (24 March 2026). "Crítica de 'Altas capacidades': la comedia más incómoda del cine español reciente". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
- ↑ Martínez, Luis (25 March 2026). "Altas capacidades: Una comedia con clase sobre los límites dramáticos del clasismo (****)". El Mundo.
- ↑ Lombardo, Manuel L. (27 March 2026). "Los invisibles". Diario de Sevilla. Grupo Joly.
- ↑ Balbona, Guillermo (28 March 2026). "Oscura, casi negra y amarga". El Diario Montañés. Grupo Vocento.
- ↑ Boyero, Carlos (27 March 2026). "'Altas capacidades': así son. Y así nos parecen". El País.
External links
edit- Better Class at IMDb
- Better Class at ICAA's Catálogo de Cinespañol