The Exiles () is a 2024 drama film directed by Belén Funes. It stars Antonia Zegers and Elvira Lara. It is a Spanish-Chilean co-production.
The film premiered at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024. It also screened at the 28th Málaga Film Festival in March 2025 ahead of its 23 May 2025 theatrical release in Spain by A Contracorriente Films.
The plot tracks a mother-daughter relationship, in which both parts are mourning the passing of Julián, with the mother (Delia, Julián's wife) being a Chilean taxi driver in Catalonia and the daughter (Anabel; Julián's daughter) holding a close relationship to the land of Jaén, from which her father emigrated. They both face eviction from their apartment in , acquired by a vulture fund.
The film is a Spanish-Chilean co-production by Oberon Media, La Claqueta PC, Quijote Films, and Los Tortuga AIE. It was shot in between the provinces of Barcelona and Jaén in late 2023.
The Exiles was presented in September 2024 in the 'Centrepiece' section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). For its U.S. premiere, it made it to the 'Spanish Focus' programme of the 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival. It was also included in the main competition strand of the 28th Málaga Film Festival, where it was presented on 16 March 2025. It is expected to be released theatrically in Spain on 23 May 2025 by A Contracorriente Films.
Michael Talbot-Haynes of Film Threat wrote that "there are times where The Exiles is so real that you can feel the air around the characters on the hairs of your arms".
Luis MartÃÂnez of El Mundo deemed the film to be the stunning confirmation of Funes, "a film that stains and stains itself", also assessing that "few endings are as rounded, exciting and perfect as that of Los Tortuga".
Begoña Piña of CinemanÃÂa rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, declaring it "a mirror of reality, truth, of normal people".
Beatriz MartÃÂnez of Fotogramas rated The Exiles 4 out of 5 stars, citing "the magnificent performances of veteran Antonia Zegers and newcomer Elvira Lara" as the best thing about the film.
Manuel J. Lombardo of Diario de Sevilla rated The Exiles 4 out of 5 stars, writing that it "weaves its solid framework between the particular and the historical, between the personal and the collective (the political)", underpinning the matters and the manners of a "great film".
Sergi Sánchez of La Razón rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, praising how "it is moving without being sentimental, and portrays the wounds of grief away from the usual clichés".
|- | rowspan = "3" | || rowspan = "3" | 28th Málaga Film Festival | colspan = "2" | Silver Biznaga for Special Jury Prize || || rowspan = "3" | |- | Silver Biznaga for Best Director || Belén Funes || |- | Silver Biznaga for Best Screenplay || Belén Funes, Marçal Cebrian || |- | rowspan = "10" | | rowspan = "5" | 5th Carmen Awards | colspan = "2" | Best Film || | rowspan = "5" | |- | Best Supporting Actress || Mamen Camacho || |- | Best Production Supervision || Manolo Limón || |- | Best Sound || Diana Sagrista, Abraham F. Apresa || |- | Best Special Effects || Amparo MartÃÂnez Barco || |- | rowspan = "3" | 18th GaudàAwards || colspan = "2" | Best Non-Catalan Language Film || || rowspan = "3" | |- | Best Original Screenplay || Belén Funes, Marçal Cebrian || |- | Best New Performance || Elvira Lara || |- | rowspan = "2" | 40th Goya Awards || Best Actress || Antonia Zegers || || rowspan = "2" | |- | Best New Actress || Elvira Lara || |-