El Noi de la Mare

The Inescapable Spirit of La Mercè Barcelona

Directed by Nicolás Méndez & Lope Serrano

CANADA PRODUCTION

Words by Katie Huelin

Barcelona’s La Mercè festival isn’t just a celebration - it’s a tradition that shapes the city’s mood, touching even those who don’t take part. This inescapable essence is captured in MERCÈ24 - El Noi de la Mare, a short film by Nicolás Méndez and Lope Serrano, produced by CANADA.

Set in a family apartment, the story follows a restless child whose world is momentarily lit up by the sights and sounds from the festival drifting in through the window. Mendez and Serrano beautifully capture how shared public moments like this, leave a lasting imprint on private lives, subtly shaping the city’s collective spirit.

In MERCÈ24 - El Noi de la Mare, how did the concept of the screaming baby juxtaposed with the festival's celebration emerge? What inspired you to explore the themes of stress and catharsis in this way? 

It’s a film pro paying taxes. The idea explores how the public sphere influences everyone, even if we don’t use it. Barcelona is a city that takes this public festival very seriously and puts a lot of effort into it. A fair like this, that we all pay together and everyone enjoys, envelops the city for a few days and has a real influence on people. Probably for a few days, it helps to shape a general mood and character - even on the people that don’t even take part in it. The child is just an example for this. The festival sneaks into the house from the window and makes the child relax for the first time.

Having a festival like this in your city is good for the soul. 

With two directors for the film, what was the collaborative dynamic like? How did each of your strengths contribute to shaping this unique project?  

Easy. It all went very naturally. First exchanging ideas (which is the most important part of the process) until we come to a place where we both feel comfortable. After the idea is shaped, when we work together, usually one of us takes care of each one of the parts of the process. Then he shares with the other one and gets the feedback. On the writing, the drawing, the scouting, the tests… finally we are together in the shoot.

If there is respect for the other person’s opinions it is very easy to listen, because all of the comments are useful. The same thing happens with any other member of the crew. So, it’s just like having another crucial person there to help with great criteria when it comes to making important decisions. 

The film transitions from grainy visuals that reflect the mother’s stress to bold, vibrant, flashing colours as the festival comes alive outside. How did you approach the use of lighting and colour to convey this emotional and visual transformation?  

The scenes during the day just reflect a long summer day in Barcelona, with no air conditioner and no escape. The transformation you mention happens really on the face of the child, the moment he sees the giant dancing out the window. His eyes changed in one second in the most expressive way. That shot was a miracle, something completely unexpected for us. I will NEVER reveal what we showed to the kid to do that. 

Anna Castillo delivers a nuanced performance as the mother on the verge of breaking down. How did you work with her to achieve an emotionally charged yet stripped back performance? 

We didn’t really have to do much. She has such a good instinct. The perfect taste. We just explained who she was and what was happening and she did it all. She is just the right amount of love and despair. Drama and comedy. 

“A fair like this, that we all pay together and everyone enjoys, envelops the city for a few days and has a real influence on people.”

How did the collaboration with Mercè24 influence the creative direction for this video? Were there specific aspects of the festival that you wanted to highlight in a short amount of time, and how did you balance your artistic freedom with the client’s vision? 

We had to come up with a few concepts until we found the right fit, for them and for us, as it would normally happen with any other client in a process like this. But once we agreed on the idea, the rest was easy. I think overall the city council was brave to put a concept like this out. It is always a very controversial job and we are very thankful they went for it. 

Are you working on anything exciting at the moment that you can share with us? 

We are finally starting to finance our first feature, so that’s exciting. Although that’s going to take a while.

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Featuring: Anna Castillo, Owen & Zyan Carrión, Margarita Sardá

Directors: Lope Seranno & Nicolás Méndez - CANADA

Production Company: CANADA

Client: MERCÈ24

Executive Producer: Alba Barneda

DOP: Pepe Gay de Liébana

Producer: Christy Alcaraz Moyer

Art Director: Alexandra Jordana

FX Technician: Joan Batolomé

Graphic Design: Alícia Vogel

Stvlist: Violeta Cornella

Director Assistant: Pol Rodriguez

Production Manager: Itsasne Santos

Production Manager: Nerea Nongrados

Executive Producer: Victor Mata

Post Production: Alvaro Posadas, Marta Ferrero

VEX Editor: Jansen

Andy Marturano

Art: Anna Romero

Art Assistants Julia Puig

Claudia Espiérrez

Production Coordinator: Jose Gallego

Production Assistant: Nerea Santos

Storyboard Artist: Ignasi Moreno

Art Truck: Grant Surmi

Casting Director: Alejandra Alaff

Camera Truck: Xavier Vallet

David Miranda

Researcher: Cristian López

Ian Pascual

Serlos Vargas @Deritrans

Proiector Technician: Ouim Martinov

Grip: Dani de Juan

Edo de Armas

Focus Puller: Marc Piera

Video Assistant: Victor Geis

Wardrobe: Julia Piqueras

Audio: Angel Sound

Editing Assistants: Bermat Udina

Helmut Lachenmann (-vor der Erstarrung)

Music Ensemble: Intercontemporain

Matthias Pintscher

Editor: Carlos Font Clos

Post-Production Coordinators: Marina C. Campomanes & Javier Botella Pérez @CANADA

Make Up: Andrea Trenado

Colour: Marc Morató @Metropolitana

Sound Design: Angel Sound

Visual Research: Angie Bolea

2nd Assistant: Director

Paula Treío

Runners

Joan Galán

Bernat Mumbardó

Matías Portitlo

Unit Manager: Javier Ortega

Photography Assistant: Gabriell Rodrigues Da Silva

Location Scout: Ana Terrero

Javi Guiterrez

Anna Cuervas

Rai Battle

Biel Altès

Gaffer Rafa Ramirez

Head Electric: Juame Muntada

Sparks Abel Rodriguez

Jesús Estarregui

Pau Galarza

Alejandro Narvaez

FX Superviser: Juan Carlos Davilla