08/04/2025
Coming soon! Saturday 12th
According to prestigious Spanish film critic Pako Díaz Aguilar:
"Thirteen years ago, the Catalan filmmaker DaVida Sal (formerly known as Love Jordina) wrote, produced through crowdfunding, directed, and starred in her debut feature film, Saving ISIS (under the name Jil Love). I recently watched it and listened closely.
Saving ISIS, as staged, is a brilliant, hypnotic, poetic, and sublime piece of cinema. In it, we discover a filmmaker influenced by the greats of both national and international cinema: Buñuel, Bigas Luna, Lynch, Von Trier (especially in her use of independent, emotionally evocative imagery), and even a majestic hint of Coppola's cinematic style. One of the standout aspects of the film is the excellent voice-over work, featuring the voice of the beloved, now-late, actress and mother, Mrs. Pilar Bardem.
The narrative of Saving ISIS unfolds as a "road movie," divided into four moments: the past, the present, the future, and eternity. It was filmed across four locations on two continents—America and Europe—specifically in San Francisco, California; the Nevada desert; Madrid; and Tarragona (the birthplace and hometown of the filmmaker).
Dedicated to her mother, Enriqueta Salabert, the film reflects a universal truth for all creative people: the profound, eternal attachment to our mothers. When we lose them, we feel the need to publicly dedicate our art as a tribute, to send a message of love to the world, and to protect that love for others.
Saving ISIS is a philosophical tale of the battle between good and evil, made up of dark and sinister forces that relentlessly stalk the protagonist. These forces seek to find eternity, even in the face of a death that has no face.
In Saving ISIS, Love Jordina-Jil Love (now DaVida Sal) gave us a remarkable introduction to her artistry. Almost 13 years ago, she showed us, through her writing, crowdfunding production, direction, and acting, that she is one of Spain's most creative and original filmmakers—one to watch, not only in Spanish cinema but on the world stage as well.
I hope that starting in 2025, subsidies for Spanish film productions will focus less on "friendly" or "plug-in" projects, and instead, be guided by the merit of the story itself. From the script, it's clear whether a film deserves public funding, based on the story it tells."
Poster created by Paco Peregrín
Graphic Design by Parolio M.B.
Thanks DaVida Sal