Marco Ferreri and a Film Ahead of Its Time
On 9 October 2026, the Valencian Film Library will screen El Cochecito (1960) at the Edificio Rialto, one of the most transgressive works of Spanish cinema. Directed by Marco Ferreri, this black-and-white film blends dark humour, social critique, and a raw portrayal of old age, themes that earned it the Critics’ Prize at the 1960 Venice Film Festival. Co-written with Rafael Azcona, the film is a prime example of how cinema can be both entertaining and unsettling, without resorting to sentimentality.
Plot: Obsession and Marginality
The story follows Don Anselmo, a retired elderly man with no mobility issues who becomes obsessed with acquiring a motorised invalid carriage. His motivation isn’t medical but social: he wants to fit in with a group of friends who, thanks to these vehicles, enjoy a freedom he envies. Through this absurd premise, Ferreri explores exclusion, dependency, and the search for identity in old age, with a tone that shifts between the comic and the tragic. Considered one of the greatest dark comedies in European cinema, the film remains relevant for its ability to depict human contradictions.
Practical Details
- Date and time: 9 October 2026, 20:00.
- Duration: 85 minutes.
- Format: Screening in DCP (Digital Cinema Package).
- Entry: Free, no prior booking. Doors open 30 minutes before.
- Language: Original Spanish version.
