Dance of the Living

Dance of the Living
Theatrical release poster
SpanishLa lucha
Directed byJosé Alayón
Screenplay by
  • Marina Alberti
  • Samuel M. Delgado
Produced by
  • José Alayón
  • José M. Viña
  • Jamie Weiss
  • Jairo López
  • María Alejandra Mosquera
  • Carlos E. García
Starring
  • Yazmina Estupiñán
  • Tomasín Padrón
  • Inés Cano
  • Sara Cano
  • Aridany Pérez
CinematographyMauro Herce
Edited byEmma Tusell
Music by
  • Camilo Sanabria
  • Adriana Galán
Production
companies
  • El Viaje Films
  • Blond Indian Films
Distributed bySideral Cinema
Release dates
  • 19 September 2025 (2025-09-19) (Zinemaldia)
  • 30 January 2026 (2026-01-30) (Spain)
Running time
92 minutes
Countries
  • Spain
  • Colombia
LanguageSpanish

Dance of the Living (Spanish: La lucha) is a 2025 drama film directed by José Alayón. Exploring the Canarian wrestling scene, it stars Yazmina Estupiñán and Tomasín Padrón in a father-daughter relationship. It is a Spanish-Colombian co-production.

Plot

Set against the backdrop of Canarian wrestling in the island of Fuerteventura, the plot follows father Miguel and daughter Mariana (both wrestlers) as they try to moved forward after the death of her wife and mother Pilar, facing Miguel's knee injury and Mariana's rage.[1]

Cast

  • Tomasín Padrón as Miguel[2]
  • Yazmina Estupiñán as Mariana[2]
  • Inés Cano as Inés[2]

Production

The film is a Spanish-Colombian co-production by El Viaje Films alongside Blond Indian Films, with backing from Creative Europe MEDIA, ICAA, the Government of the Canary Islands, Radio Televisión Canaria, and Cabildo de Tenerife.[2]

Release

Dance of the Living premiered in the 'New Directors' section of the 73rd San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 2025.[3][4] The festival run also included selection for screenings at the São Paulo International Film Festival, the Toulouse Spanish Film Festival (Cinespaña), the Thessaloniki Film Festival, the Vancouver Film Festival, and the Bordeaux International Independent Film Festival.[2] Mauro Herce worked as cinematographer and Emma Tusell as film editor.[2]

Distributed by Sideral Cinema, it is scheduled to be released theatrically in Spain on 30 January 2026.[2][5]

Review

Cristóbal Soage of Cineuropa lauded how the film "crafts a deep, honest and achingly beautiful portrait of a unique place and the people who live there".[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Hopewell, John (17 September 2025). "San Sebastián Buzz Title 'Dance of the Living' Gets a First Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "El film canario 'La Lucha', de José Alayón, llega a las salas de cine el 30 de enero". Diario de Avisos. 5 January 2026 – via El Español.
  3. ^ a b Soage, Cristóbal (23 September 2025). "Review: Dance of the Living". Cineuropa.
  4. ^ Hopewell, John (20 September 2025). "Director Jose Alayón Unpacks San Sebastián New Directors Title 'Dance of the Living'". Variety.
  5. ^ Sánchez Sequera, Marcos (2 January 2026). "El cine español que se estrenará en 2026". Audiovisual451. Retrieved 10 January 2026.