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lawsthe of

THERMODYNAMICS

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shortoutline

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Manel, a promising, somewhat neurotic physicist, is determined to show how his relationship with Elena, successful model turned into actress, wasn’t a complete disaster due to him, but because it was doomed from the get-go as determined by the laws of physics, those discovered by geniuses such as Newton, Einstein and the founders of quantum mechanics, but specially by the three laws of thermodynamics.

short outline

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longoutline

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It’s surprising how well the laws of physics apply to couple relationships. One just needs to bring certain scientific concepts into the realm of feelings, even quite literally in some cases, like gravity or the attraction between bodies. This is the concept behind

long outline

The laws of thermodynamics, a romantic comedy with a documentary-like structure (including interviews with scientists) which could be summed up with the phrase boy meets girl, boy falls out of love, girl... it’s just not that clear. It essentially tells the story of Manel, a physicist working as an assistant professor while he writes his PhD dissertation who falls in love with Elena, a high-stakes model who is about to succeed as an actress. Her beauty and charisma, along with the scientist’s deterministic concept of life, will mix into a sparkling cocktail in the beginning, a reactive one later, then into an explosive, to become a revealing experience in the end.

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The voice of the lead character will guide us through this science pseudo-documentary as he explains to us the failure of his relationship as an inevitable fact, as determined by the very Laws of Nature, those discovered by geniuses like Newton, Einstein or the founders of quantum physics, and specially by the the three principia of a lesser-known discipline: thermodynamics, or the study of heat.

As Manel accounts for his experience, though, he will realize the effects of his own fears and insecurities on the unraveling of his relationship. The backdrop issue is: are we mere puppets in the hands of our instincts and the laws of nature, or is there the tiniest space for free will? As for his relationship, the question is whether after coming to terms with his own mistakes Manel will be able to get Elena back, or the laws of physics will have it determined that it’s too late for them.

Fi = m d 2 xi

dt 2

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crew

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Director mateo gil

Screenplay mateo gil

Producers francisco ramosmikel lejarzamercedes gamero

Executive producersrafael lópez manzanararosa pérez

Line producerjosep amorós

Assistant directors manel martínezcarlos rosal

Cinematographer sergi vilanova

Production designerjuan pedro de gaspar

Editing miguel burgos

Sound daniel fontrodonafabiola ordoyomarc orts

Original score fernando velázquez

Hair and make-up ana lópez-puigcerverbelén lópez-puigcerver

Costume design clara bilbao

Casting directors ana sáinz-trápagapatricia álvarez de miranda

crew

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Manel vito sanz

Elena Berta vázquez

Pablo chino darín

EvaVicky luengo

Lorenzojuan betancourt

Albaandrea ros

castWith:

Raquelirene escolar

Professor Amatjosep maría pou

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Characters

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Manel (Vito Sanz). Physicist working as an assistant teacher while he writes is dissertation on thermodynamics in complex systems. His Cartesian mindset and his emotional clumsiness have made him a somewhat paranoid individual. This aspect of his personality will blow up when he starts dating Elena. As the story moves forward, we will find out his scientific approach and deterministic views of reality are nothing but an excuse for his own insecurities... and that the laws of physics are not the only responsible of his failing relationship.

manel

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elena

Model who makes a good living but is looking to learn new trades and meet new people. That’s one of the reasons why she finds Manel attractive. Throughout almost the whole film, our image of Elena is filtered through Manel’s perspective, therefore she might come across as elusive, indifferent or listless, which combined with the temptations inherent to her line of work will make us understand Manel’s state of paranoia. It won’t be until the end that we finally get to understand her behavior and the reasons why she has drifted away.

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Friend of Manel’s who begins a relationship at the same time with the fourth character in this story: Eva. In this relationship, Pablo will play a similar role as Elena, since he is just as attractive and successful. But he is also a player. He will date Eva for a while without stopping dating other women. Little by little he will get hooked up on Eva until he has to make the ultimate choice between freedom and commitment.

pablo

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She will meet the other three characters at the same time, and will immediately feel attracted to Pablo. During her relationship with him she will come across more obstacles than Manel with Elena, since Pablo refuses to give up his life as a bachelor. But Eva will be patient and she’ll try and overcome all obstacles, she will forgive and fight for what she wants until she gets it. But doubts die hard with Pablo.

eva

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Manel’s girlfriend, with whom she had a more natural kind of relationship until he begins dating Elena. Raquel’s reaction after their breakup will be mimicked by Manel a while later when things in his new relationship turn south.

raquel lorenzo

Successful actor who will work alongside Elena when she gets the lead on a movie. The film business will be the new realm of exploration for her, which combined with Lorenzo’s self-assurance and good looks will turn him into Manel’s greatest adversary.

Thermodynamics professor and Manel’s adviser on his thesis. He will bring a cunning approach to Manel’s endeavors. He will illuminate him about how physicists are suicidal, and the alarming suicide rates among the physicist who founded the branch of thermodynamics.

amat

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LEADINGPERFORMERS:

Bio&

FILMOGRAPHY

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vito sanz

Vito Sanz was born in Huesca in 1982 and grew up in Barcelona where he got his training at the Theater College and with Manuel Lillo and Txique Berraondo. He follows up training under Fernando Piernas in Madrid and at the Augusto Fernández school in Buenos Aires.

He makes his film debut on Jonás Trueba’s The Wishful Thinkers, becoming a part of the wishful family and later working on Los exiliados románticos.He has also participated on Nely Reguera’s María (y los demás), Juan Cavestany’s Esa sensación and Clara Martínez Lázaro’s La Madrina (Growing Up). He is currently a part of the ensemble cast of Movistar’s new series Vergüenza by Juan Cavestany and Álvaro Fernández Armero. This year he received the Best Actor Award at the Málaga Film Festival for his work in Chiqui Carabante’s Normal.

In 2015 he founded his own theatre company, Club Caníbal, alongside Chiqui Carabante, Font García and Juan Vinuesa, debuting the show Desde aquí veo sucia la plaza at the Frinje festival in Madrid, alredy with a long trajectory both domestic and international. This year they opened Herederos del Ocaso, also at Frinje Madrid, to great success. Currently they are working on the third installment of their Iberian Chronicles trilogy. In theater he has worked among others on Paco Mir’s ¡Qué desastre de función!, Teoría y práctica sobre los principios mecánicos del sexo by Miguel Ángel Cárcano, and Trampolín reforma 7B, directed by Fernando Piernas.

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film

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIEby Chris McKay. As Harley Quinn (Voice)

Palm trees in the snowby Fernando González MolinaBest New Actress winner, actors Union Awards 2016

berta vázquez

Locked up Season 3 FOX España

El accidente, Telecinco

Locked up seasons 1-2, Antena 3

Dreamland Telecinco

tv

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Locked up Season 3 FOX España

El accidente, Telecinco

Locked up seasons 1-2, Antena 3

Dreamland Telecinco

film

memorias del calabozoby Álvaro Brechner. 2017

El ángelby Luis Ortega. 2017

THE QUEEN OF SPAINde Fernando Trueba. 2016

THE SILENCE OF THE SKYby Marco Dutra. 2016

pasaje de vidaby Diego Corsini. 2015

volleyby Martín Piroyansky. 2015chino darín

La embajada. 2016

El hipnotizador. 2015

Historia de un clan. 2015

Farsantes. 2013

tv

death in buenos airesby Natalia Meta. 2014

en fuera de juegoby David Marqués. 2012

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vicky luengo

She begins training in musical theater at the Memory school in Barcelona. Later she is taught at the Theater College in Barcelona and takes courses with Macarena Pombo at the Film Central and with Fernando Piernas in Madrid.

In theater, she stars in Lifespoiler (2017), with book and direction by Marc Angelet and Alejo Levis at the Flyhard room. Also Ivànov (2017), version and direction by Àlex Rigola at the Teatre Lliure. Pau Roca’s hISTÒRIA (2016) at Sala Beckett. Vilafranca (2015) by Jordi Casanovas; Las niñas no deberían jugar al fútbol (2014) by Marta Buchaca at the Canal Theaters; El juego del amor y del azar (2014), directed by Josep Maria Flotats at the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya y el Centro Dramático Nacional; IAIA (2013) de Roger Peña; Una història catalana (2013) de Jordi Casanovas en el Teatre Nacional de Catalunya; Orquesta Club Virginia (2012), dirigida por Manolo Iborra en las Naves del Español-Matadero Madrid y Plastilina (2009) de Marta Angelat en la Sala Beckett de Barcelona.

In television, she has starred in La Riera (2012-2017) on TV3 and has appeared on Camping Paradis (2013) on the French channel TF 1; Disney’s El don de Alba (2013) on Telecinco; Homicidios (2011) from Big Bang Media on Telecinco; La pecera de Eva (2010) from Isla Audiovisual for Cuatro; Hospital Central (2010) from Videomedia for Telecinco and El cor de la ciutat (2007) on TV3.

In film she has worked on the features Blue Rai (2017) by Pedro Barbero Abreu; Barcelona, nit d’hivern (2015) by Dani de la Orden and Born (2014), by Claudio Zulian, for which she earned the award for the Best Leading Actress at the New York International Film Festival (2015).

In other works she has made the short films Wax (2014) by Víctor Matellano; Lágrimas Azules (2014) by Carlos de Cozar; El Cubata Detonante (2013) by Almudena Monza and Recuerda (2008) by Carlos de Cozar, and also the TV movies Os fillos do sol (2017) by Ramón Costafreda; La salaó (2013) by Jesús Font; La Trinca (2011) by Joaquím Oristrell; El pacto (2011) by Fernando Colomo; Carmen (2011) by Jacques Malaterre and Rumors (2007), by Óscar Aibar.

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director’snotes

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The laws of thermodynamics is not a physics documentary. It’s not exactly a romantic comedy either. It is a game, an entertainment, based on the juxtaposition of word and image, and on irony. We know that scientific laws have nothing to do with feelings and yet, that’s a metaphor that will make us think and smile, as it brings back an image of ourselves as puppets in the hands of forces way stronger than us, making us behave like idiots who think they have their lives under control and make their own decisions.

The reason I say this is not exactly a romantic comedy is it has the structure of a documentary. Matter of fact, the scientists’ voices are heard throughout a large portion of the running time and everything they say is a fact – their statements could be used on an actual documentary about astrophysics. The resulting film resembles a large format documentary, except the customary images that illustrate the text are here replaced with the story of our lead characters. The fun thing is they are perfect as an illustration of the matters at hand!

director’snotes

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The documentary genre has a very specific language, and The laws of thermodynamics makes a point of using it to achieve that unique perspective on romantic affairs. The very lead of our story is our guide and narrator, and we could say the movie is his dissertation. This is how reality is observed, deconstructed, analyzed down to the most subtle of details using every tool and visual resource in the genre book: rewind, slow-motion, multi-angle replay, even superposed animated graphics. Most of the film’s comedy comes from the contrast between the serious tone of a documentary and the absurdity or ridiculousness of the situations.

The thematic spine of the movie is whether free will actually exists. Must we take the blame for every failure in our relationship or can we relax and realize that nothing is really up to us? Does it make sense to try and alter the facts, to change our reality? Since he is a scientist, up-to-date with the latest neurological research data, our lead character is convinced that all of our decisions have actually been determined beforehand, for free will is nothing but a mind-made illusion. But, as his friend Pablo puts it: ‘free will might just be an illusion, but people out there are fucking their brains out’.

The laws of thermodynamics does not really go for the laugh-out-loud moments. It aims to put a 2-hour smile on the faces of the audience, the smile an adult person has when they allow themselves to try their wit with a riddle or a challenge, specially if it involves their very image of themselves.

cT =Pp

F = G m m1 2r 2

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the

productioncompanies

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After the group’s vast experience in the business of film distribution, Mortadelo and Filemon: Mission - Save The World (2008) was its first venture into film production, earning a big box-office hit. It was followed by Three Steps Above Heaven (2010), adapted from a best-seller by Federico Moccia and starring Mario Casas and María Valverde, which became the biggest earner in 2010 with 10 million euros.

In 2011 Zeta Cinema made The Opposite of Love, starring Hugo Silva and Adriana Ugarte, a rom-com that went on to become a box-office and critical success. 2012’s film was I Want You, which ended up becoming one of Spain’s top 10 box-office hits ever.

In 2003 Zeta Cinema produced three movies: Combustion, directed by Daniel Calparsoro, Zip & Zap and The Marble Gang, directed by Oskar Santos, and Ismael, directed by Marcelo Piñeyro. In 2014 came Mortadelo and Filemon: Mission Implausible, which became a big hit and earned 6 Goya Awards nominations and sold almost one million tickets in cinemas. In 2015 Zeta Cinema premiered It’s Now Or Never, a hit rom-com from María Ripoll, and Spy Time, directed by Javier Ruiz Caldera, one of its most ambitious projects to date.

In 2016 premiered Zip & Zap and the Captain’s Island by Oskar Santos, and The Man with a Thousand Faces directed by Alberto Rodríguez, which won the Feroz Award for the Best Film and the Silver Shell for the Best Actor for Eduard Fernández at the latest San Sebastian International Film Festival.

Their latest premiered productions have been Algo Muy Gordo, directed by Carlo Padial and starring Berto Romero, and Sunday’s Illness, directed by Ramón Salazar and starring Susi Sánchez and Bárbara Lennie.

In the coming months we will be able to see Gente que viene y bah, Patricia Font’s feature debut starring Clara Lago, Carmen Maura, Alexandra Jiménez and Álex García, and Superlopez, directed by Javier Ruiz Caldera and starring Dani Rovira, Maribel Verdú and Alexandra Jiménez.

F = G m m1r 2

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ATRESMEDIA CINE is a part of the Atresmedia group, and it aims to promote and advance the growth of the film industry, making the most of their TV channels as a means of communication. Ever since their beginnings they have made more than 100 films which have been both critical and box-office successes.

Atresmedia Cine has produced some of the biggest Spanish hits of the later years, such as Palm Trees in the Snow, Torrente 4 and 5, 3 Steps Above Heaven, I Want You, Perdiendo el Norte, It’s Now Or Never, The Body, Lord Give Me Patience, Heroes Wanted, A Stroke of Luck, among others; international productions like Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Woody Allen) Intruders (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo), Red Lights (Rodrigo Cortes), Grand Piano (Eugenio Mira) and

Mindscape (Jorge Dorado); domestic films which have also been awarded like Alberto Rodríguez’s internationally acclaimed thriller Marshland, winner of 10 Goya Awards including Best Director, Best Film, Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. The film also earned the Audience Award at the European Film Awards in 2015; Dani de la Torre’s Retribution, which opened the Venice Days section at the Venice International Film Festival; Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s May God Save Us which won the Jury prize for best Original Screenplay and The Man With a Thousand Faces.

In 2017 it premiered Oriol Paulo’s The Invisible Guest, a hit which made over 24 millions in China, and Fernando González Molina’s The Invisible Guardian; also the comedies Lord Give Me Patience by Álvaro Díaz Lorenzo and Toc Toc, directed by Vicente Villanueva, both of which brought over 1 million people to the cinemas. Also the Goya-nominated Gold by Agustín Diaz Yanes, based on a story by Arturo Perez Reverte and Abracadabra by Pablo Berger among others.

In the year 2018 it will premiere more than 10 films, among them Thi Mai, Rumbo a Vietnam directed by Patricia Ferreira, the new Santiago Segura comedy Sin rodeos, starring Maribel Verdú; La Tribu from Fernando Colomo with Carmen Machi and Paco León; The Laws of Thermodynamics, directed by Mateo Gil; Los Compadres’ El mundo es suyo, Sol a cantaros starring Leo Harlem and Toni Acosta; Los Futbolisimos, based on the best-seller for children; Gente que viene y Bah directed by first-timer Patricia Font; the long-awaited sequel for Jose Luis Cuerda’s Amanece que no es poco, Tiempo después; Inmersión directed by Wim Wenders, which premiered at the Toronto and San Sebastian festivals, starring James McAvoy and Alicia Vikander, and the thrillers El Reino by Rodrigo Sorogoyen and La sombra de la Ley by Dani de la Torre.

CINE

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the distribution

company

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Sony Pictures Entertainment Iberia (SPE) is an affiliate of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), subsidiary to Sony Corporation based in Tokio. SPE’s global operations include film production and distribution, TV production and distribution, creation and distribution of digital content, world-wide TV channel financing, home video sells and distribution, facility management, development of new products for the entertainment industry, services, technology and entertainment distribution in more than 142 countries.

Sony Pictures Entertainment can be accessed on their global website www.sonypictures.com.

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mateo gil’sfilmography

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feature films

short films

television

the laws of thermodynamics (2018)Writer and director

realive (2016)Writer and director

Blackthorn (2011)Director

agora, by Alejandro Amenábar (2009), Writer

the method,by Marcelo Piñeyro (2005)Writer

the sea inside,by Alejandro Amenábar (2004)Writer

nobody knows anybody (1999)Writer and director

open your eyesby Alejandro Amenábar (1997), Writer

films to keep you awake:spectre (2006)Writer and director

dime que yo (2008)Writer and director

allanamiento de morada (2008)Writer and director

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pressand

communicationscontact list

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waw comunicación

Nuria CostaKatia Casariego

ncosta@workingatweekend.comkcasariego@workingatweekend.com

atresmedia cine

Carolina Guillamas cguillam@atresmediacine.com

SONY PICTURESRELEASING ESPAÑA

Toni CostaNatalia Fernández

toni_costa@spe.sony.comnatalia_fernandez@spe.sony.com

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technicalspecs

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GenreRunning time

LanguageFeature Film

Year of productionNationality

Comedy1h 40’’Spanish (Castilian)Fiction2018Spain

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THE LAWS OF THE THERMODYNAMIC is a ZETA CINEMA production with the collaboration of TELEVISIÓ DE CATALUNYA,

ATRESMEDIA, ICAA and ICEC.

Distributed by SONY PICTURES RELEASING SPAIN