Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil, Movie Review

Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil is a wonderful movie based on Basque folklore. The general story can be found in other cultures as well, and the representation does justice to the tale. However, The Blacksmith and the Devil pays a greater homage to the version the writer/director, Paul Urkijo Alijo grew up with in the Basque region of Spain.

I saw a screening of Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil at the 2018 FilmQuest Film Festival (website). You can also find additional information about Errementari on Internet Movie Database (IMDb link).

Plot Summary

Before the story begins, the introduction to Errementari gives a very brief overview of the tale. Do you believe in Hell? And, there was a blacksmith who the Devil considered so evil that he tried to close the gates of Hell to keep him out.

In the first half of the 19^th century, at the end of the First Carlist War (Wikipedia page) is when the story begins. Soldiers who are trying to return home are being lined up for execution. One survives; the reason is because of the help from a demon.

Jump forward eight years.

The blacksmith, Patxi, (played by Kandido Uranga (IMDb link)) lives a short distance away from town. The people think he is an evil man who captures children and should be left alone. That’s until a government agent comes to find the blacksmith because it is believed he has a stash of gold that went missing at the end of the war. Those who hear about this are easily persuaded to find the man.

But young Usue (Uma Bracaglia (IMDb link)) has also stumbled across the path of Patxi and his forbidding smithy. She finds a boy in a cage and helps free him. Then she finds out the boy is actually the demon Sartael (Eneko Sagardoy (IMDb link)) who came to collect Patxi’s soul and was caught by the blacksmith.

There are a number of twists and turns in the story.  There are fights that takes place between demons, the blacksmith, and the townsfolk. Eventually, Usue bargains her soul to save the blacksmith, who in turn, goes to Hell to save the girl.

Sartael

FilmQuest Cthulhu Awards

Errementari was honored with 12 nominations and won 5 categories.

The 5 winning categories were

Best Feature Film

Best Director—Paul Urkijo Alijo (IMDb link)

Best Supporting Actor – Eneko Sagardoy (IMDb link)

Best Costumes—Nerea Torrijos (IMDb link)

Best Makeup

Errementari was also nominated for

Best Screenplay – Paul Arkijo Alijo and Asier Guirricaechevarria (IMDb link)

Best Ensemble Cast

Best Cinematography – Gorka Gomez Andreu (IMDb link)

Best Sound

Best Score Pascal Gaigne (composer) (IMDb link)

Best Production Design

Best Visual Effects

Usue at the gate of the smithy

Overall

This was an enjoyable film. This telling is a wonderful modern rendition in the classic folktale tradition. It doesn’t tell the story as it is recorded in times past because it is such an old and broadly told tale (Curiosity.com). If you have heard the story of the Smith and the Devil, this is another variant.

Alijo respects his story by keeping it wrapped around the Basque culture and other folktales from the region. The movie was filmed in Basque country and in the Basque language that was fitting for the timeframe of when the story takes place. Along with using the language, the actions are fitting to the time period.

Some of the liberties taken with the story add humor that made the entire audience laugh. You might not realize how funny chick peas (garbanzo beans) are until you see the film. There are also well placed lines and actions that provide humorous breaks from the building tension.

The actors embody their characters and give the audience people to care about. I found myself rooting for the demon Sartael along with Usue and Paxti by the end. The interaction between the main characters carries through the entire cast. Even though it did not receive the award for best ensemble cast, I think Errementari was in a tight race with the movie that won the category.

Although Errementariis currently only on the festival circuit, I would be surprised if it doesn’t get distribution. It probably won’t make the major theaters because it is recorded in the Basque language and is based on a folktale. But, I highly recommend this as a movie worth seeing wherever you get the chance.

And, with the detail given to this production, I believe we will be seeing more from this director.

I give Errementari: The Blacksmith and the Devil 4 ½ out of 5.

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Patxi