It Snows in Benidorm

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It Snows in Benidorm

2020

1h 57m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

45%

Tomatometer

11 Reviews

31%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

After being forced to retire, Peter, a man of routines and few joys, decides to go to Benidorm to visit his brother Daniel with whom he has little contact. But when he arrives in Benidorm, Daniel seems to have vanished. Peter will then discover that his brother owns the Benidorm Club, where a group of dancers make exotic and burlesque performances. Among them, Alex, a beautiful woman with an enigmatic past, who will steal his heart. In the search of his brother, Peter will confront dangers involving real estate mafias and unpaid debts. Benidorm will be one more protagonist in this story, a place sometimes beautiful, sometimes dangerous and gloomy that will be the background of a romantic love story in its twilight.

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

Sep 4, 2022

2/5

The always impressive Spall elevates this low-key mood piece a little, but even his skill as an actor can’t save the stultifying pacing.

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Leslie Felperin

Financial Times

Sep 1, 2022

2/5

Part noirish story about corruption and a missing person, part romantic comedy about a buttoned-up Brit who discovers a sensual side in a southern clime, It Snows in Benidorm is a whole paella of cliché and messy storytelling.

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Mike McCahill

Guardian

Aug 31, 2022

2/5

Pushing its luck at two hours, this eventually collapses in a heap of its own symbolism, barely unpacking the missing-persons intrigue it started out with.

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Edward Porter

Sunday Times (UK)

Sep 12, 2022

2/5

It often resembles a plain TV drama as it shuffles through its awkward mix of love story and social commentary.

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Josh Saunders

The Sun (UK)

Sep 2, 2022

3/5

A tale of a man who becomes entranced with a sensual woman and rediscovers himself abroad is hardly original, but Spall and Choudhury are such talents you’ll almost believe it is.

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Andy Lea

Daily Express (UK)

Sep 2, 2022

2/5

Coixet’s unusual editing technique (characters occasionally jump across the frame for no apparent reason) give this stilted and utterly perplexing film the air of a forgotten (and probably for good reason) David Lynch movie.

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Helen L

@RT74567819 Nov 1, 2025

I kept waiting for something to happen but it never did. Very boring. 2 hours of my life... blar blar blar

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Chris J

@RT33155100 Jan 6, 2025

I was absolutely amazed at the reviews given to this film. I think many of the reviewers wanted it to be either a thriller or romantic comedy and it was not intended to be either. It was a very poetic portrayal of a place where one does not expect to find poetry. The two leads were absolutely wonderful, The pace was dreamlike but the dream was not part of anyone’s cliched genre. These two ended up with a unique relationship, which allowed each to be the person they were able to be. I hope time will bring audiences to see that this is a very original film.

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eliza H

@RT64571837 Dec 19, 2024

If I could give it zero stars, I would. As you might say, there are almost two hours of my life I won't get back. It is a film where absolutely nothing happens every ten minutes or so. Watch at your own risk of dying of boredom.

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Ian W

@RT67985106 Jan 27, 2024

I like Timothy Spall. Why did he take this film? He has to play an unbelievably dull man. But why is every ummm... line errr.. delivered errr... so... umm... slowly... errr... umm... The original premis was OK, but the film drifted badly from around the 45 minute mark. The plot is ultimately paper thin. The love interest is just not remotely believable. It dragged. Why do Spanish backed films appear to drag? (OK not 'all', just the 4 Spanish films I've had to suffer in 2024). Does he get back to Manchester? Does he stay in Benidorm? Ultimately I just do not care.

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Tony C

@Anthony994 Jan 14, 2024

Good actors,in slow "what the hell is this about "Made about as much sense as a episode of the tv series Benidorm,Why was the cleaner tryst to poison him,when are they going to make part 2…

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Sharon H

@RT72231158 Jan 14, 2024

Plotless. Fabulous views of Benidorm, best part of this slow and disappointing film. A pure waste of time.

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Isabel Coixet

Director

Timothy Spall

Peter Riordan

Sarita Choudhury

Alex

Ana Torrent

Lucía

Carmen Machi

Marta

Pedro Casablanc

Esteban Campos

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Synopsis

After being forced to retire, Peter, a man of routines and few joys, decides to go to Benidorm to visit his brother Daniel with whom he has little contact. But when he arrives in Benidorm, Daniel seems to have vanished. Peter will then discover that his brother owns the Benidorm Club, where a group of dancers make exotic and burlesque performances. Among them, Alex, a beautiful woman with an enigmatic past, who will steal his heart. In the search of his brother, Peter will confront dangers involving real estate mafias and unpaid debts. Benidorm will be one more protagonist in this story, a place sometimes beautiful, sometimes dangerous and gloomy that will be the background of a romantic love story in its twilight.

Director: Isabel Coixet
Producer: Agustín Almodóvar, Pedro Almodóvar, Esther García
Screenwriter: Isabel Coixet
Production Co: ViacomCBS International Studios UK, El Deseo, Movistar+, Radio Televisión Española, Benidorm Film Office
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: European Spanish
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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