El columpio

"Will they dare to say to each other what they're feeling before it's too late?"

1993 0h 9m ES

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 9

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Late at night, a boy and a girl are waiting for the last train in a subway station, which is deserted but for them. They are thinking to themselves about their problems, and we hear their thoughts as voice over monologues. Soon they start exchanging casual glances; they find each other very attractive, and, separately but simultaneously, they start to fantasize about what would happen if they got together that night. They get really excited with this game in their minds; It's almost like they've fallen in love at first sight. And then they hear the train coming... they have to take a decision: Will they dare to say to each other what they're feeling before it's too late?

“Will they dare to say to each other what they're feeling before it's too late?”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Ariadna Gil
Chica
Coque Malla
Chico

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Álvaro Fernández Armero
Writers: Álvaro Fernández Armero
Languages: Spanish
Countries: Spain

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 9-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

33 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Iván Aledo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Ariadna Gil and Coque Malla carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Will they dare to say to each other what they're feeling before it's too late?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0103988 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 9 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Álvaro Fernández Armero directs. Iván Aledo cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Spain. Dialogue in Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 9-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
233 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Editor Iván Aledo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Ariadna Gil and Coque Malla carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Will they dare to say to each other what they're feeling before it's too late?".
7IMDB entry: tt0103988 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 9 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Editing: Iván Aledo
Runtime: 9 min · 0h 9m
Status: Released
Original language: ES
IMDB: El columpio (1993)

Awards

Goya Award for Best Fictional Short Film

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Álvaro Fernández Armero

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2026-02-15
★ 7/10
It’s half past one in the morning in a Madrid Metro station, where one young lad (Coque Malla) and one young lady (Ariadna Gil) are awaiting the last train. They start off paying each other no heed, but when each notice the glances of the other, they begin to think. Initially, their thoughts are mundane enough, but as they become more aware, and attracted, to the other their thoughts turn a tiny bit raunchier. There isn’t long til the train arrives - will either pluck up the courage to speak to the other? There is something really quite natural about this short film. We’ve all been there, espying someone attractive on the platform but unwilling to speak or preferring to leave the whole encounter to our imaginations. Moreover, both actors seem naturally oblivious to the quite intrusive presence of the camera, too. I did quite like the humour of the ending, and fitting too because she had no business stubbing out her cigarette on the floor - pure dead common, that. There’s no actual dialogue so even if you don’t speak Castilian, you can follow the gist fairly effortlessly and insert words and thoughts where applicable!

Production companies