Raqqa: Spy vs. Spy

Raqqa: Spy vs. Spy
Raqqa: Spy vs. Spy
	Theatrical release poster
Spanish	Raqa
Directed by	Gerardo Herrero
Screenplay by	Irene Zoe Alameda
Based on	Virgins and Executioners; by Tomás Bárbulo
Produced by	Mariela Besuievsky; Gerardo Herrero;
Starring	Álvaro Morte; Mina El Hammani; Abdelatif Hwidar; Fariba Sheikhan; Ben Temple; Sara Hwidar; Cristina Kovani; Déborah François; Ali El Aziz; Juan Carlos Vellido;
Cinematography	Juan Carlos Gómez
Edited by	Clara Martínez Malagelada
Music by	Paula Olaz
Production; companies	Tornasol Media; Malika y el Saharaui AIE; Angle Production;
Distributed by	DeAPlaneta (es)
Release dates	10 November 2024 (Seville); 22 November 2024 (Spain);
Languages	Arabic; English; Spanish;

Raqqa: Spy vs. Spy (Spanish: Raqa) is a 2024 spy thriller film directed by Gerardo Herrero from a screenplay by Irene Zoe Alameda based on a novel by Tomás Bárbulo. It is a Spanish-Moroccan-German co-production.

Plot

Set in ISIS-controlled Raqqa, the plot follows mercenary spy Haibala (serving Russian interests) and Ceuta nurse/spy Malika (working via Europol), both chasing ISIS leader "The Jordanian".^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Cast

Álvaro Morte as Haibala aka "El Saharaui"^[1]
Mina El Hammani as Malika^[1]
Abdelatif Hwidar [ca]^[3]
Fariba Sheikhan [es]^[3]
Ben Temple as Khaled^[2]
Sara Hwidar as Muna^[2]
Cristina Kovani as Alia^[2]
Déborah François^[3]
Juan Carlos Vellido^[3]

Production

The film was produced by Tornasol Media and Malika y el Saharaui AIE alongside Angle Production.^[1] Shooting locations included Casablanca, Marrakesh, and locations in Navarre such as Bardenas Reales.^[1]

Release

The film screened at the 21st Seville European Film Festival on 10 November 2024.^[5] It is set to be released theatrically in Spain on 22 November 2024.^[6]

Reception

Jonathan Holland of ScreenDaily wrote that "while the events and coincidences pile up too quickly, meaning that characters and issues who deserve more time lack depth, this efficient picture still merits international attention".^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Tráiler de 'Raqa': Álvaro Morte y Mina El Hammani, en un thriller sobre el Estado Islámico y la Yihad". rtve.es. 15 November 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Holland, Jonathan (14 November 2024). "'Raqqa: Spy Vs Spy': Seville Review". ScreenDaily.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Stegmeier, Ion (16 October 2024). "Así se convierte Navarra en el Estado Islámico". Diario de Navarra.
^ Martos, David; Rebolledo, Matías G. (14 November 2024). "Mina El Hammani: "Por fin me están dando otro tipo de personajes, más allá de su origen"". Kinótico.
^ "Álvaro Morte, el profesor algecireño de 'La Casa de Papel', tiene nueva misión en el cine: 'Raqa'". Europa Sur. Grupo Joly. 11 November 2024.
^ ""Raqa", un 'thriller' de espías en las entrañas del Estado Islámico protagonizado por Álvaro Morte". ABC. 11 November 2024.

[rtve-1] "Tráiler de 'Raqa': Álvaro Morte y Mina El Hammani, en un thriller sobre el Estado Islámico y la Yihad". rtve.es. 15 November 2024.

[holland-2] Holland, Jonathan (14 November 2024). "'Raqqa: Spy Vs Spy': Seville Review". ScreenDaily.

[stegmeier-3] Stegmeier, Ion (16 October 2024). "Así se convierte Navarra en el Estado Islámico". Diario de Navarra.

[4] Martos, David; Rebolledo, Matías G. (14 November 2024). "Mina El Hammani: "Por fin me están dando otro tipo de personajes, más allá de su origen"". Kinótico.

[5] "Álvaro Morte, el profesor algecireño de 'La Casa de Papel', tiene nueva misión en el cine: 'Raqa'". Europa Sur. Grupo Joly. 11 November 2024.

[6] ""Raqa", un 'thriller' de espías en las entrañas del Estado Islámico protagonizado por Álvaro Morte". ABC. 11 November 2024.

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