I Am Nevenka

Nevenka Fernández was 23 years old when she started working at the City Council of Ponferrada, a small city in the north of Spain. She was young, beautiful and susceptible to the flattery of the town’s mayor, who positioned himself as a mentor — and then endeavoured to take advantage of her.

Nevenka wasn’t going to put up with it and despite the cautions that came her way, she went public with the abuse.

Iciar Bollain’s film is based on a true story and it’s an all too common one, no matter which part of the world we’re talking about. As Bollain makes clear, misogyny isn’t centered in individual infractions, it’s embedded throughout society and baked into our psyche. But a woman of courage and conviction like Nevenka — superbly played by Mireia Oriol — can still affect change.

Soy Nevenka is important and necessary, but movies cannot be built from the label of “a necessary film.” Luckily, the film overcomes this hurdle and takes flight towards the end.

Gregorio Belinchon, El Pais