Madrid, 1987’– from writer-helmer David Trueba, one of the bestknown Spanish directors at this year’s San Sebastian Festival - has been acquired for world sales by Madrid-based 6 Sales.

Trueba’s Salamina Soldiers played Cannes 2003’s Un Certain Regard.

A melancholy chamber period piece, ‘Madrid, 1987’ toplines vet thesp Jose Sacristan as Miguel, a famed but ageing newspaper columnist who agrees to be interviewed by Angela, a pretty but thrusting young student journalist (Maria Valverde).

Miguel wants Angela’s body and companionship, Angela, much less talented and far less sentimental, a scoop on Miguel. They end up locked in a bathroom. She ultimately wins.

World preeming Thursday at the Basque fest, “‘Madrid, 1987’ is again another demonstration of David Trueba’s talent. You can’t take your eyes off the film even though it takes place in a bathroom for almost the whole duration,” said 6 Sales founder Marina Fuentes.

Pic also records the passing of an age, the advent of a get-rich-quick society in Spain.

“The ‘transition’ left the country at the feet of bankers and businessmen,obsessed with money and power, a culture of the most superficial type of success,” said Trueba.

The film is a period piece, he added, but where characters not environment reveal “the manner of behavior, ambitions and defeats, fear and merits” of an age. A second 6 Sales pick-up, Wrinkles, world preems Monday in Zabaltegi–New Directors.

The latest product of Galicia’s strong tradition in toon pic animation, Wrinkles played as a promo to an upbeat response at March’s Cartoon Movie. A senior citizen buddy movie produced by Perro Verde and Cromosoma, it adapts Paco Roca’s multi-prized graphic novel.

Wrinkles is directed by Ignacio Ferreras. His toon short, How to Cope With Death,won best first film at the 2003 Annecy Animation Festival.

JOHN HOPEWELL