Spanish Film Fest 2025 Review - Marco, the Invented Truth
Images courtesy of the Spanish Film Festival.
Marco, the Invented Truth is an award-winning biographical drama thriller covering a real-life major scandal that took place in Spain in 2005. It’s the story of Enric Marco, a highly respected public figure who fell from grace following the reveal that his reputation was based on a massive, morally questionable lie… He lied about being a Holocaust survivor. After being exposed, he never directly apologised and even tried to defend his actions.
Born in 1921, Enric Marco was known as a charismatic and passionate leader and storyteller. He was a trade unionist in the 1970s when Spain transitioned from a dictatorship to democracy, and was active in various political and social causes, speaking out against fascism and raising awareness about the Holocaust. Much of his personal connection to these causes was later revealed to be exaggerated or fabricated.
Playing the titular role, Eduard Fernández is transformed into Enric Marco. Not only does he look the part while playing the character at different life stages (he lived to 101) but his acting really captures Marco’s speech, mannerisms and charisma. Through Fernández’s acting, it’s easy to see Marco’s strength as a public speaker and the passion he put into the causes. It makes it all the more shocking to witness his exposure as a fraud and the people who were hurt by the revelation, including his own family and the real Holocaust survivors he associated with.
The film builds suspense by focusing on the events leading up to Marco’s exposure and the aftermath. It is the lead-up to a high-profile Holocaust remembrance ceremony at a concentration camp in Austria, where Marco was scheduled to give a speech. Before reaching this climactic moment, there are compelling scenes of Marco’s past, including his struggles to obtain official concentration camp certificates and involvement with different political causes.
The scene where Marco eventually confesses to the fraud is extremely emotional, thanks to the powerful dialogue and acting from Fernandez and the cast playing the members of the Spanish Association of Holocaust Survivors. Fermí Reixach’s performance as Holocaust survivor Pere was particularly moving in this heartbreaking scene between them.
Nathalie Poza and Júlia Molins’ performances were also touching as Marco’s conflicted wife and daughter, who were heartbroken by the news, but hinted at having had doubts in the past.
Overall, this is a film that is incredibly immersive in its drama. Interesting camerawork, such as tilts and panning long shots during table discussions with the Holocaust survivors’ association, feeds the suspense and unsettling mood as the scandal unravels. The use of a mostly linear narrative with flashbacks and even some real-life footage of Enric Marco successfully sets the tone while supporting the story’s authenticity.
The film highlights Marco’s tenacity throughout his life and how he persisted even after the national public scandal. He is painted as a complex character with a chronic desire for attention. We see this in his repeated attempts at salvaging his reputation and ‘defending his truth’ by seeking media attention, participating in a documentary, and even causing a scene at the Olot literary festival event for ‘The Imposter’, a book about his scandal. It also emphasises that his efforts on behalf of the Holocaust survivors were mostly voluntary and not driven by financial gain.
I walked into the film without any prior knowledge of the scandal apart from what was in the synopsis, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Even having a vague idea of the reveal didn’t reduce the suspense one bit.
Marco, the Invented Truth is a stunning, modern drama with award-worthy acting that immerses you into this true, scandalous story. Whether you are previously aware of the case or not, the film will draw you in.
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Marco, the Invented Truth screened as part of the 2025 Spanish Film Festival. For more info, click here.