Eire Cid’s ‘The Imaginary Kings’ Explores Working-Class Male Angst at ECAM Incubator

During the ninth iteration of the Madrid Film School (ECAM) incubator program, director Eire Cid unveiled her debut feature, “The Imaginary Kings” (“Los Reyes Imaginarios”). The project stands out among five selected entries for its focus on the psychological struggles of young men in urban settings.

Cid describes the film as an “irreverent and visceral” work characterized by an anti-naturalistic visual style. “Fluorescent, dirty and sexy, heavily influenced by urban culture,” she told Variety, outlining the aesthetic direction of the picture.

The narrative follows Rude, a tattooed teenager residing in a working-class district with his father. Portrayed as sensitive yet volatile, Rude represents a form of masculinity that is both aggressive and fragile. After the sudden death of his friend El Rubio, he copes through trap music, betting, fights, pornography, and poppers. His life shifts when he meets Valeria; while she brings him joy, she also compels him to face his unresolved grief.

“He is unable to connect with his own pain and vulnerability, and to do so, he will have to break,” Cid explained. She characterizes the film as a “coming-of-empathy,” mirroring her own journey as a feminist writer who initially disliked her characters but eventually came to understand them.

Producer Bea Villar of Brava emphasized that the film targets teenagers whose experiences are rarely depicted on screen. “From the beginning, Eire and I shared the same goal: to connect with young people at a time when dangerous ideas about what it means to be man are resurfacing and to open a dialogue around them,” Villar said, praising Cid for stepping outside her comfort zone.

The setting plays a crucial role in the story. Filmed against the backdrop of Vigo, a port city in northwestern Spain, the narrative highlights the area’s betting shops, bars, and industrial cranes. Villar noted that the choice of location was deliberate, drawing parallels between Vigo and other European port cities burdened by the legacy of declining industrial masculinity.

“Vigo is pivotal to the story because, like other European industrial cities, it carries the legacy of a frustrated working-class masculinity shaped by the decline of the shipbuilding industry and offshoring,” Villar stated, adding that this heritage serves as an intergenerational burden within the film.

The project has undergone extensive development, having participated in the Film Academy’s Rueda Program, the inaugural incubation at the Madrid University School of Arts TAI, the Navarra Residency, the AGAG Mentorship Program for Women Screenwriters, and the CREA Conecta Lab. Throughout the writing process, Cid received guidance from notable figures such as Alberto Guntín, Belén Funes, Lola Mayo, Albert Serra, and Silvia Herreros de Tejada.

Principal photography is scheduled to begin late next year in Vigo.