SBIFF Premiere: Day Release (Tercer Grado)

In one of the most explosive films to hit the big screen at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Day Release (Tercer Grado) captivated moviegoers with its gripping action and drama. It’s the story of an unlikely hero who witnesses the armed robbery of a security van carrying more than €700,000 on his first day of weekend parole after five years in prison.

Mark, a young man with a troubled life, wishes to make things up to his brother. His brother’s critical situation and his own feelings of remorse will lead Mark to take desperate measures.

Star of the film Jesus Lloveras, and director Geoffrey Cowper were in attendance at the world premiere of Day Release at Metro 4 Theater. Jesus dedicated the premiere to his 85-year-old grandfather who helped him advance in his acting career by becoming a movie producer.

“We wanted to tell the story of what someone would do to save their family…things they normally wouldn’t do,” Geoffrey told the audience. Day Release is Geoffrey’s first feature film and he said he learned a lot from the mistakes made in the making of it such as budgeting for even the most minute things. He added that production of the film more than doubled in costs.

Day Release is a movie from Spain whose fast pace is very uncharacteristic of many European films. Geoffrey explained, “We like the idea of brief and fast moments of violence.” He added that he simply doesn’t like European movies that move too slow. He said he still felt that perhaps the movie was still too slow but the audience, still delighted by the the fiery film, reassured him the pacing was perfect.

The film had so many great scenes that I was compelled to ask Jesus and Geoffrey what their favorite scene was. “The hotel room scene I really like because that’s where he (protagonist) goes back to his past and begins to explain his life story to a stranger…and that was most enjoyable because it was most challenging,” said Jesus.

Geoffrey on the other hand went with the more action-based approach. “My favorite scenes were the burning of the car and the heist scene.” He noted that it was fun having 100 high school students serve as extras running and screaming when shooting the heist scene.

Indeed, for being these young filmmakers’ first feature film, Day Release was a great accomplishment that everyone should rejoice in.

Don’t miss your chance to watch this film. Day Release screens at the Metro 4 theater again on February 1st and 2nd. For times CLICK HERE.

For more information about the film visit www.breakingpictures.es/tercergrado/la-pelicula