A very tense film throughout, where hope feels limited and fleeting.
The Tigers screens as part of this year’s 2026 HSBC Spanish and Latin American Film Festival, more information about the festival is available here: HSBC Spanish & Latin American Film Festival in cinemas June
Read the Glam Adelaide story about the festival here: 2026 HSBC Spanish & Latin American Film Festival begins 10 June – 5 July at Palace Nova Cinemas – Glam Adelaide
Alberto Rodríguez’s Los Tigres has won several awards, including the Jury Prize for Best Cinematography at the 73rd San Sebastián International Film Festival (2025), and Best Special Effects at the 40th Goya Awards (2025). Out of 15 awards for which it was nominated at the 5th Carmen Awards, it won 10. I found the setting of the film particularly interesting as it explores the world of industrial diving of which I knew little.
Set along the industrial coast of Huelva, the film follows siblings Antonio (Antonio de la Torre) and Estrella (Bárbara Lennie), whose lives are bound to the sea – and to each other – in ways that feel both protective and restrictive. Antonio has the most respect on the boat (the “Tiger”) yet is struggling in his personal life, with an ex-partner who has threatened that he will never see his children again, unless he pays her a significant amount of maintenance. His sister Estrella, who lives and works with him, silently supports his decision to steal cocaine in order to pay off his debts.
The life of a diver, with its inherently short-term and physically demanding career in the oil industry, effectively heightens the sense of pressure and instability that lead character Antonio feels. This is intensified through the character of the boss, Fat Boy (Joaquín Núñez), who constantly pushes the divers to enter the water despite clear safety risks, driven by the demands and expectations of the oil companies above him. Joaquín Núñez was my favourite actor in this film.
The cinematography and soundtrack help create a strong atmosphere, while the characters feel realistic and relatable making these two elements the strongest aspects of the film. Both lead actors portray their roles well, particularly in showing the emotional strain and survival mindset of the characters, as well as how different they are from one another. This makes the story emotionally heavy; however, their bond is unbreakable, and that provides a constant sense of comfort and calm.
On the surface, Antonio de la Torre is a strong character whose raw physical performance is in contrast to Estrella who is quiet, observant and caring. Their boss, Fat Boy appears demanding and oppressive. Yet as the film develops none of the characters are fully admirable nor entirely flawed. Antonio is impulsive, Estrella is frustratingly self-sacrificing, and Fat Boy is kind and generous. This type of realism strengthened the entire plot. And although the plot developed only at a steady pace, the atmosphere was constantly tense, in particular the sound of Antonio’s heavy, rapid breathing underwater.
If you enjoy thrillers where the environment feels as tense as the unfolding scenes, where the actions of the characters feel realistic, and where the cinematography captures both the beauty and the fear of life underwater, The Tigers has it all!
Reviewed by Rebecca Wu
Rating 4 out of 5
Distributor: Palace Films
