The Spanish speakers Film “Perdiendo el norte”, in German “Lost in the North”, from the year 2015 belongs to the genre Comedy. In addition to mostly funny scenes, the film by Spanish director Nacho G. Velilla also deals with more serious topicsthat the characters have to deal with.
Comedies are particularly common in Spanish films. The explanation “Spanish films” tells you which genres there are and what characteristics they have.
“Perdiendo el norte” – summary
“Perdiendo el norte” is set in Spain in the 2000s. The two main characters Hugo and Braulio have just finished their studies and are trying one job found in Spain. Hugo has a master’s degree in economics and Braulio is a molecular biologist. However, the job search in Spain is shaped by the weak economic situation of the country is rather difficult.
The two friends finally got the idea from a television program Berlin to travel and stay there Job search to go. According to the TV show, this should be child’s play in Germany.
Shortly after Hugo and Braulio arrive in Berlin, they meet the young Spanish woman Carla. Since finding an apartment in Berlin is a big challenge, Carla offers her friends to move in with her. The limited knowledge of German makes finding a job extremely difficult. Hakan, the owner of a Turkish-Spanish falafel restaurants, and his wife Marisol However, give the two a chance and leave them in the restaurant kitchen dishwasher work.
The dish “Falafel” originally comes from the Arabic region, but is also very popular in Spanish cuisine. You can find out which dishes are typical of Spain and other special features of the country in the explanation “Spanish History and Culture”.
Hugo and Braulio don’t earn much as dishwashers and can’t even afford one Language course afford. Then receives Hugo the news that his father has lost his job in Spain and his family is therefore urgent Money needed. Hugo then sends them his hard-earned money.
The friends Braulio and Hugo gradually settle in in Berlin. In addition, come each other Hugo and Carla closer, even though he is already engaged to Nadia, who lives in Spain. Furthermore, Hakan and Marisol eagerly wish each other childbut learn that Hakan barren is. Braulio, who urgently needs money, then offers his services more unofficial sperm donor at. Marisol accepts the offer, without to talk to her husband Hakan about it and will pregnant by Braulio.
The climax of the film occurs Visit from Hugo’s family in Berlin. His family believes that Hugo will become a successful one Businessman has become in Germany. Hugo wants to let her believe this and asks his circle of friends to support him. When Hugo’s family finally arrives, Carla, Hakan and Marisol act as if they were Hugo’s Employee.
Hugo’s family is also owned by Hugos Fiancée Nadia accompanies. Carla is profound injured, because she didn’t know that Hugo was already taken. Carla wants to go after Hugo revenge and therefore tells his family the truth – that he is not a successful one at all Businessman is. Hakan also learns that Braulio The father of his unborn child is and is very angry at first.
By the way, “revealing the truth” means “revealing the truth” in Spanish reveal the truth. To learn more Spanish idioms, click on the explanation “Spanish idioms”.
Hurt by Carla’s betrayal, Hugo flies back to Spain with his family. However, on the day of his actual wedding to Nadia, he realizes that he is actually Carla loves and Nadia doesn’t want to get married at all. For this reason he leaves Nadia at the altar and returns to Berlin. There he asks Carla for forgiveness, which he finally succeeds in doing.
Furthermore, Marisol and Hakan reconcile and Marisol gives birth to her Child. Braulio receives an offer for one Research trip to China, which he accepts. Nevertheless, his friend Hugo stays in Berlin and moves in with Carla to live with Hakan, Marisol and their little daughter, who is like a kind Surrogate family have become for him.
“Perdiendo el norte” – characters and cast
The plot in the film “Perdiendo el norte” mainly represents three characters in the foreground – Hugo, Braulio and Carla. By the way, that plays Turkish-Spanish couple Hakan and Marisol also play an essential role in the comedy.
Characterization of Hugo
Hugo is one of the main characters in the comedy “Perdiendo el norte”. He is around 28 years old. Below you will find his most important character traits:
- very educated (muy educado) – degree in economics
- Ambitious and proud (ambicioso y orgulloso) – He doesn’t want to admit to his family that he “only” works as a dishwasher.
- Family-related (orientado a la familia) – He sends his entire savings to his family in Spain.
- dishonest (deshonesto) – He cheats on his fiancée Nadia with Carla.
Characterization of Braulio
Braulio is Hugo’s best friend. He is about the same age as Hugo. Braulio is particularly characterized by these properties:
- very educated (muy educado) – degree in molecular biology
- in good faith (de buena fe) – He agrees to illegally serve as a sperm donor for Marisol and Hakan.
- loyal (devoto) – He doesn’t let Hugo down.
Characterization of Carla
Hugo and Braulio meet Carla shortly after her arrival in Berlin and she quickly falls in love with Hugo. Their role is characterized by the following properties:
- helpful (dispuesta ayudar) – She invites Hugo and Braulio to her apartment.
- ambitious (ambiciosa) – She has managed to make a career in Germany.
- honest (honesta) – She is shocked that Hugo lied to her about his fiancée.
Hakan & Marisol
The roles Hakan and Marisol are set Spanish-Turkish couple who runs a falafel restaurant in Berlin. Since Hugo and Braulio can’t find work, they give them both jobs dishwasher in their restaurant kitchen. The two are characterized by these properties:
- helpful (dispuesto / -aa ayudar) – They give Hugo and Braulio a chance.
- dishonest (deshonesta) – Marisol “cheats” on Hakan with Braulio because she doesn’t tell him that Braulio is supposed to be a “sperm donor”.
“Perdiendo el norte” – cast
The main characters in the film were played by the following cast:
- Hugo – Yon Gonzalez
- Braulio – Julian Lopez
- Carla – Blanca Suarez
“Perdiendo el norte” – teaching material and interpretation
The romantic comedy “Perdiendo el norte” is often chosen as teaching material in Spanish lessons. This is mainly because there are some in this film important subjects of Spanish history and culturebe taken up. In the Instruction is often used with “Perdiendo el norte”. Immigration of Spain discussed, but topics such as the effects of fraud and deception are also taken up.
If you take a closer look at the most important themes and motifs of a film, this process is also understood as film analysis. You can read about the important steps involved in the explanation “Spanish film analysis”.
Immigration to “el norte”
The story in “Perdiendo el norte” is about two young Spaniardswho leave Spain to find work in Germany. This immigration to Germany is also known in technical language as immigration designated.
In the film title, “el norte” (the north) means Germany, because it north of Spain is located. For Hugo and Braulio, emigration represents the opportunity to pursue a career in Germany, as this is not possible in Spain.
Since the 1990s, the desire of many Spanish locals to emigrate has been growing. You can read about the reasons for this and what effects these migration movements have on Spain in the explanation “Migration Spain”.
Lost in the North
Hugo and Braulio belong to the so-called “lost generation“, also known as the “lost generation”. This term is used to describe Spanish and Portuguese academics who are through the Economic crisis could not find work in their home country.
Especially since Financial crisis 2008 Spain’s economy is not doing particularly well, as most of Spain’s income comes from the tourism and through the trade generated with other countries. As a result, other countries had less money available, which is why trade and vacations were enormously reduced.
A number of jobs disappeared, which is why there is still one in Spain today very limited number of jobs is available. Even people with academic degrees, like Hugo and Braulio, have a hard time getting one job in their home country and often try their luck abroad.
unemployment, especially among young people, is a major problem in Spain. This is due, among other things, to the effects of the financial crisis 2008 and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting travel restrictions.
As a result, the Unemployment rate in Spain. Mainly looking for a job young peopleThose who just want to start their professional life are finding it difficult. In 2022, the youth unemployment rate in Spain will be close **30%.**2
Tourism is extremely important for the Spanish economy. You can read about why Spain is such a popular holiday destination and how this was influenced by the Covid pandemic in the “Tourism Spain” explanation.
Fraud
Another central theme in “Perdiendo el norte” is Fraud, which is covered in several storylines. For one thing, Hugo lies to his Familysince he pretends to be a successful one Businessman to be in Germany. On the other hand, he cheats on his fiancée Nadia with Carla and even doesn’t tell Carla that he’s actually engaged. But Marisol also lies to her husband Hakanby not initially telling him that she paid Braulio to be a “sperm donor” for their child.
“Perdiendo el norte” – Director: Nacho G. Velilla
The film “Perdiendo el norte” was directed by the Spanish director Ignacio García Velilla, known as Nacho G. Velilla, produced. Velilla is a well-known name in the Spanish media industry, having worked on numerous successful projects TV and film productions was involved, including the sitcoms “7 Lives” and “Aida”.
Velilla studied Computer Science at the University of the País Vasco (University of the Basque Country). During a year abroad in Great Britain, Velilla took some elective courses in film and television, after which he received his Passion discovered for media. After his studies, he initially worked on some music videos and documentaries. In 1997 he worked on the script for the Spanish television series “Family Doctor”.
Velilla’s first film “Fuera de Carta”, a comedy, was released in theaters in 2008 and was a huge success. Since then, Velilla has been working on both films and…