PENELOPE CRUZ, JAVIER BARDEM IN BUNKER
FLORIAN ZELLER: BUNKER (2026)- MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL
Class, money, and paranoia
Zeller's "instructive" pieces, The Father, The Mother, The Son, Truth, have started as successful stage plays; in Paris and London. This time he went straight to the screen with this tale starring Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz as a well off Spanish husband and wife, living in London with two teenage daughters, who get into difficulties. These are meant to illustrate various points the author wants to make - this is at times perhaps a bit too obvious - and it all seems somewhat silly, and rather drawn out - yet very entertaining and watchable, and rather like a good play.
The pivotal figure is a working class neighbor whom Miguel at first violently dislikes and establishes an instant feud with - Toby, played with much gritty flavor by Stephen Graham. Toby gets into a tense dispute with Miguel after renovating his garage and, in doing so, blasting a hole/window through the high wall that borders Miguel's pristine garden from the neighbor's property. Miguel becomes deeply paranoid and resentful toward Toby. But that will change.
Florian Zeller's Bunker will open in U.S. theaters for a wide release in early 2027, following a limited awards-qualifying run at the end of 2026. My full review may appear in Dec 2026. Sony Pictures Classics. Thanks to them for the screener.
More intros to come. Stay tuned.