My Rating: 3.71/4 (aka Worth your time)

One line summary: A Spanish politician’s life begins to unravel when his misdeeds are revealed.

The Deets: You might be drawn to this movie as I was, for the high ratings and political thriller theme. But it’s the energy that sucks you in – the mostly subtle musical pulsing that persists and keeps it going, ratcheting up the volume as we go, the pace quickening, until you’re ready for the water to boil over with some shocking event. I won’t tell you what happens of course (because it’s really worth your time), but you will have to decide whether the payoff is worth it. I didn’t rate it higher because it seems to be lacking something in substance – the cacophonous storyline that unfolds is a little hard to follow, and so the stakes of the final interview feel less crucial than the director desires.

Perfect for: Anyone who likes Spanish dramas, and especially if you’re into political thrillers. Also if you’re in the mood for something intense.

Where to watch: You can rent it on your favorite streaming platform; the translated title seems to differ between “The Realm” and “The Candidate.”

Food pairing: You don’t have much time to eat with this one, so I might go with an affogato so you can keep up with the pace.