Overview
Step by step, Vicky Luengo is quietly building a substantial long-distance acting career, culminating in a standout role on a major series. The discussion threads through a project described as a riot gear of performance, where a powerful performer emerges within a generation. At the table, following a command from Alfredo Sanzol in a study, the inspiration from Juan Mayorga’s play Golem intertwines with the ongoing filming of the series Red Queen, which is adapted from the bestseller by Juan Gómez-Jurado. Parallel to this, Mikel Gurrea’s debut feature Suro features a young woman who relocates to Ampurdà with her partner after inheriting a cork oak estate they were about to claim. A change of scenery becomes a catalyst, sparking ideological and personal shifts for both characters.
When asked what stood out about the character and the story, Luengo reflected on the sense of uncertainty that the script invites. As she explained, reading the material often clarifies who holds the moral line, who is meant to be trusted, and where the narrative challenges those assumptions. Suro keeps circling back to people and their perceptions, a device that unsettles even the viewer. She noted how the script provokes reflection on class, racism, and power dynamics, prompting her to evaluate her own judgments as a citizen and as a spectator.
Regarding the portrayal of gender roles, Luengo pointed to a shift in the balance of power within intimate relationships and within society itself. The labels assigned to genres no longer fit, and the male character in Suro finds himself redefining his place as the story unfolds. The man commands the farm and seeks purpose, confronting a sense that his own masculinity may be wounded. This framing challenges traditional stereotypes and opens up space for a nuanced discussion on gender and power.
On the topic of public perception after Riot Gear, Luengo acknowledged the persistence of strong female roles in her career, while emphasizing that labels can be limiting. She compared the contrast with Red Queen, a project featuring a highly analytical, almost supremely intelligent character with an IQ of 242. This role allows her to construct the character through inner monologue, offering a window into a mind that often processes emotion in private. Luengo believes that intelligent, reasonable people can harbor a vast inner vocabulary that remains inaccessible to their outward emotions. She enjoys the challenge of playing characters she cannot fully predict, even as she occasionally longs for the freedom of a role that feels less controllable.
Another key moment was the final catharsis scene in Suro, in which the character experiences an explosive outburst. Luengo described filming it as a form of performance, with everyone uncertain about the exact course of action. The character becomes a pressure cooker, erupting in a torrent of anger that she sees as a powerful, almost defiant moment for a woman who embodies strength.
When the question turns to whether the relationship between the protagonists is toxic, Luengo reflected on the difficulty of defining toxicity. She recalled experiences with difficult relationships and the erosion of mutual respect. In her view, a relationship becomes toxic when communication breaks down, hurt piles up, and fear overpowers trust. Silence, she suggested, can be the end of a connection, even before any explicit confrontation.
Beyond the romance, the film offers a look at immigration—a topic that rarely gets treated with this depth in certain national cinemas. Luengo welcomed the shift in focus from a purely personal arc to social issues, highlighting how the story moves from a heartfelt bond to a broader social drama. The film invites viewers to consider racism and prejudice not only as abstract ideas but as lived experiences in rural settings, revealing how privilege and bias shape a community’s future.
In her view, combating privilege is a daily challenge. She confesses a personal awareness of consumer choices, acknowledging how shopping decisions can involve ethical concerns about workers and supply chains. The broader picture she paints is of a society pulled toward rampant capitalism and the uneasy task of rethinking such incentives in pursuit of fairness and dignity for everyone.
Luengo also spoke about the sense of privilege in her career. Before Riot Gear, opportunities to select projects that truly mattered were limited. She recalls a humble background and working to earn meals, then seizing chances to work on daring projects, including a stint in France. Despite public questions about how Riot Gear may have altered her life, she attributes the longer arc of her career to all her experiences before that moment and to the ongoing pursuit of meaningful work.