Oscar Winning Mariela Besuievsky, Nacho Alvarez Talk Toronto, San Sebastian-Bound ‘My Heart Goes Boom!’

While the pandemic has reduced film festivals’ capacity to showcase new work, an all-singing all-dancing Spanish-Italian number has been selected for two.“Explota Explota” (“My Heart Goes Boom!”), the assured debut feature of music promo and commercials director Nacho Álvarez, will receive an Rtve Gala Screening at the San Sebastian Festival next week and has also made the selection for the Toronto Festival’s market screenings.Set in dictator Francisco Franco’s Spain during the 1970s, the musical comedy tells an unlikely love story between an aspiring dancer (“Beautiful Youth’s” Ingrid García-Jonnson) and the man who must censor her.Inspired by “Mamma Mia” and “Hairspray,” Álvarez – brother of Uruguayan Fede Álvarez (“Evil Dead” “Don’t Breathe”) – takes the songs of popular singer, dancer and actress Raffaella Carrà and threads them into a story of forbidden love.While some might balk at making a musical as their debut feature, Álvarez tells

Read full article