A nice documentary in which we are facing a tense flick , hard , tough and brilliant in many moments , showing the difficult rural relationships . Progressive Dutch couple , Martin Verfondern and Margo Pool , had only one dream - to live off the land, far from the constraints and complications of the city. But, when they arrive in the crumbling , Spanish village of Santoalla, the foreigners challenge the traditions of the town's sole remaining family , igniting a decade-long conflict that culminates in Martin's mysterious disappearance. As this once forgotten landscape is thrust into the center of controversy, Margo finds herself searching not only for answers, but for the strength to persevere .¨Santoalla¨ is the true story on which ¨As Bestas¨ was based . Stars a Netherland couple who loving the rural life settled some time ago in a village in the interior of Galicia . We will meet a Dutch couple who find a small town in Orense practically abandoned , the ideal place to set up your school farm. They lead a quiet life there , seeking closeness with nature , although their coexistence with the locals is not as idyllic as they would like. But his utopia turns into a nightmare when they discovers some threatening neighbors. A judicial conflict over the profits from the cutting of trees with their neighbors will cause tension to grow in the village until it reaches a point of no return.

A controversial rural-themed picture concerning a known plot about neighborhood confrontation , as a middle-aged Dutch marriage moves to a local village where their presence inflames two villagers , facing increasingly vicious harassment to the point of outright hostility and surprising outbursts of violence and isolation . Stars Martin Verforden and Margo Pool only had one dream : to live far from the noise and complications of the big city . In Santoalla, a small semi-ruined village in Orense, they find paradise . But his neighbors, a family of locals who are not willing to lose any of the benefits that the passage of time has brought them, become his worst enemies. Three years of fighting , Martin begins to use a camera to record everything that happens , but one day mysteriously disappears and all the alarms go off . It is a very interesting exercise in documentary style , human degradation an envy , a perfect example of the conflict between town and country , and between civilization and barbarism , showing primitive lives against modern civilization .

This US/Spanish documentary was professionally directed by Andrew Becker and Daniel Mehrer . This documentary ¨Santoalla (2016)¨ results to be an adequate company to the excellent film ¨As Bestas¨ (2022) by Rodrigo Sorogoyen starred by Denis Ménochet , Marina Foïs , Luis Zahera , Diego Anido , it was selected to be screened in the Cannes Premiere section of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival . In fact , the latter movie is inspired by the murder of Martin Verfordern , and dedicated to his partner Margo . Being essential and essential to see both films together in order to understand the sad happenings . Rating : 6.5/10. Wortwhile seeing.

I couldnt believe how good this was... and I watch ALOT of documentarys but this one was just fascinating from the start..

Has ALL the working parts that can draw a person in and it does it soo well.

This was a surprisingly good documentary with a lot of good life lessons and what certainly seemed to be a surprise ending. In the end, Justice was served.

It serves as a valuable example of where the fantasy of living abroad meets the reality of living with the people who are already living there, as well as a caution to always keep things in perspective. The ruin farm and communal town property were certainly not worth destroying two family's lives.

Worth Watching!