Veteran talents from North Spanish TV team up again for Mañana es hoy
Behind some of television’s most memorable comedies are familiar names who often cross paths. Nacho G. Velilla directed and produced the Mediaset series, while Carmen Machi portrayed Aída, a character who would later headline her own show. Their collaboration extended into film with titles like Que se muere los feos, Villaviciosa de al lado, and Perdiendo el Norte. Now they join forces once more for Mañana es hoy, a comedy led by Machi alongside Javier Gutiérrez. The film follows a family as they experience time travel from the 1990s to 2022, blending nostalgia with contemporary humor.
The project stands apart as their most distinct collaboration yet. It weaves comedy and science fiction into a single narrative. The movie’s path to production took longer than expected, largely because of the ambitious premise and the challenge of assembling a cast with demanding schedules.
Velilla explained that the idea came to him roughly five years ago. He aimed to explore a different vein of comedy, one that wouldn’t be a pure farce. The process of writing and bringing the script to life was demanding, and he was determined to work with Carmen Machi and Javier Gutiérrez, both known for their technical prowess and professional breadth. The team persisted until the script and production approach met their high standards.
Carmen Machi recalled a conversation about the project that happened next door, during the making of Villaviciosa. The filming took place in La Vila Joiosa, within the Community of Valencia, a setting that added texture to the movie’s tone and mood.
Is stepping outside a familiar formula a difficult move for industry veterans? Velilla notes that success creates expectations, and proposing something divergent can be challenging. When a track record guarantees certain outcomes, declaring a new direction requires confidence. The complexity of Mañana es hoy stems from the scale of the cast and the production’s ambition. It isn’t a typical film that promises immediate results, unlike some of the director’s earlier projects such as Perdiendo el norte or Villaviciosa al lado.
Why set the story in the 1990s rather than another decade? Velilla shares that initial thoughts leaned toward the 1980s, but the 1990s offered a richer canvas for exploration. The period had a music and cinema landscape that reflected a moment of crossroads, with fashion, norms, and tastes diverging dramatically. The music scene shifted—from new wave to rap, from disco to fresh rhythmic experiments—creating a fertile ground for a distinctive cultural mix that informs the film’s sensibilities.
Carmen Machi reflects on life in the 1980s, recalling Madrid’s vibrant cultural scene under a progressive mayor who made arts accessible. She remembers the sense of freedom and the personal milestones that defined those years. The 90s brought a different rhythm, and she notes how the era’s everyday reality sometimes contrasted with how cinema represented it. Machi highlights that the period was rich with lived experiences that felt both exciting and ordinary, a combination that informs her character’s journey in the film.
Was the 1990s era more open than the 1980s? Machi affirms that there was a noticeable shift. The social climate had evolved, making room for new forms of expression and responsibility, especially for women who were breaking into leadership roles and broadening their professional horizons. The cast’s dynamic reflects these changes as the story probes how women navigate its evolving expectations and opportunities.
The character at the center of Mañana es hoy embodies this cultural shift by traversing a half-century of change, effectively experiencing two lifetimes in one. The narrative examines how attitudes toward topics such as sex and autonomy have shifted, with women increasingly steering their own destinies. The film portrays a protagonist who confronts both the opportunities and the pains that accompany freedom, underscoring that resilience and wit remain essential in adapting to new realities. The energy of this character speaks to a broader contemporary truth: women are leading in business and culture with renewed strength, aligning with the 21st century’s realities. The story emphasizes that living fully often means enduring hardship while pursuing personal sovereignty and joy.
Was this an era that marks the best moments of living? Velilla notes that the documentary work behind the movie uncovered a long arc of change in Spain. Several decades brought a shift in public concerns and social norms, sparking cultural transformations. The film suggests that a generation gap had widened within families due to fast-paced social evolution, underscoring both continuity and rupture in everyday life. Machi adds that a modern, flexible generation was at the heart of the changes, sometimes catching others by surprise with how quickly new ideas gained traction.
The story follows a woman who physically experiences the culture shock between the 1990s and 2022, a device that drives humor as well as introspection. The character’s journey reveals a 50-year arc of relevance and adaptability—what surprised Velilla most was how normalized conversations about sex became, and how women increasingly assume leadership roles across stages of life. The film posits that the 21st century suits this character well, portraying women as warriors who navigate both freedom and vulnerability. The protagonist employs bold determination to survive and thrive, even when circumstances feel daunting or uncertain.
Looking back, Velilla and Machi acknowledge that the project reflects a period when social conventions underwent rapid revisions. They observe that Spain experienced profound rules shifts from the 1980s onward, with public concerns driving cultural and social movements. The film captures a sense of national transformation, illustrating how different generations—sometimes within the same family—grapple with change at varying speeds and scales.
In the end, Mañana es hoy presents a vibrant blend of nostalgia and modern sensibility. It foregrounds personal growth, dates with destiny, and the enduring human questions about identity, time, and empowerment. The collaboration between Velilla, Machi, and Gutiérrez brings together a heritage of beloved TV comedy and bold cinematic experimentation, inviting audiences to laugh, reflect, and perhaps see their own lives through a new, time-twisting lens. The film promises an experience that resonates with contemporary audiences while acknowledging the colorful past that shaped them. This new project stands as a testament to how seasoned performers can redefine genre boundaries while staying true to the essence of what makes their work beloved by fans.