“Betis gave Isco some love and it took six months for him to become the best midfielder in the country again.”

– While watching the documentary, I wondered how Isco, who was used to being in front of the camera, would have reacted to having more intimate moments filmed in his daily life. Just then there’s a sequence where he chastises you for recording without warning. What were the negotiations like between the two of you trying to move both your personal life and film forward?

-There’s a very fine line between not going overboard and having the material. There were some very complicated moments where he was reluctant to record himself due to his injury, and other moments where he made it very easy for me. In fact, when we were shooting and editing at the same time, there was a moment where we wanted to turn around and try to make the movie how the filmmakers wanted it to be shot, but they wouldn’t allow it because there’s so much material that could be taken from it. Stones, railings, up to this point cannot be recorded… Not only because of that, but also at the bureaucratic level because it cannot be recorded in certain places. Maybe a training session where the team didn’t go well, that day they had to ask to go recording… They were recording for 10 minutes with a drone, and then suddenly it started raining… All this would have made for a completely different, different film about how difficult everyday life is, even though access to the daily life of the main character makes it deductively easier.

– I think it was annoying that a lot of content had to be discarded and a lot of stuff was left behind in the end.

– I think you need to calmly decide what’s best for the movie instead of getting attached to specific things. Many sequences and shots may be aesthetically pleasing or valuable based on other criteria, but they do not fit into the film or story and must be omitted. That’s something that every filmmaker faces, and it’s something that you have to face no matter what.

– There is another important moment in this documentary that I won’t spoil. It’s a scene in your narration that questions what recovery actually is, and there’s also a clear declaration of love.

– A priori I had no intention of being in this movie, but it seemed disingenuous to me. Because I participate in his recovery on a daily basis and we, as a family, are his support and sustenance when he is unwell. Also, when I’m not feeling well, the opposite is true. It looked almost natural, as if it were just a reflection. These questions that I had for myself, not only as a filmmaker, but also as his wife, I didn’t want to throw at him to make things happen, so I found this resource to get that message out to the public. I also think there are some iconic phrases and questions from children that could not have been asked with more sincerity than their innocence. We never exposed the children, they came out from behind, their voices came out, but they were geniuses with a sincere and pure love for their father that could not be replaced by anything else, so we couldn’t miss that part.

– I was curious about your child’s role. Did you know what you were setting? How did you deal with them?

– They didn’t really know that we were making a movie. They saw it at home and on the big screen at the festival in San Sebastian and it was great, but what they’re most excited about is now. Because I’m at the movie theater and my friends from school can also go see it. Now they are impressed that the rooms are full and people are paying tickets to come and see us. You see it through the eyes of someone experiencing it for the first time, and it’s beautiful.

“There were some very complicated moments where he didn’t feel comfortable having himself recorded, and other moments where he made it very easy for me. There were moments where we were trying to turn around and make the movie how the filmmakers wanted it to be shot, and they wouldn’t allow it.”

Sara Salamo

Director of “In Silence”

– Paradoxically and unfortunately, we are witnessing a process very similar to the one reflected in the documentary: Isco’s return from a long-term injury. Do you think you have fully recovered this time? Do you think it was a similar process?

– I think what happened in the movie happened directly. It’s exactly the same thing. Double sessions, a lot of work, days of mental deterioration because you want to shorten the deadline, want to go home as soon as possible… I already said that what is happening now can be seen in the movies in the theaters.

– The idea for this documentary came from Betis, and it is clear that Isco helped change Betis’ reality, just as Betis changed the life of Isco and his family. What tools do you think Betis have given Isco to achieve this?

– I think it’s love and affection. When you look at a player like Isco and someone reaches out to him and gives him confidence and love, he responds as he always has, that the first six months were enough for him to achieve the results he gave and become the best midfielder in the country again.

– The title of the documentary is “In Silence.” Because of your profession, you are all accustomed to media noise and exposure. How important is silence in daily life?

– We work in silence. We are very homely. Despite having small children, I often work in silence during the creative and filmmaking process. Silence is the most effective way of working and you don’t need to make a lot of noise to do beautiful things. That’s what we do.

– It is no secret to comment that this documentary effectively ends with the squad list of the Spanish national team in March, which does not include Isco. How upset were you that he wasn’t included? Did you consider the possibility of extending him with consideration for a subsequent call-up to the national team?

-On a personal note, I was very angry. I was very angry. Not only because I was his wife, but because of this movie, I watched a man work hard and scream for an hour until the news arrived. I was angry when they said no, but after a while I said, “Oh, this might be perfect for a movie.” (Laughs) I feel like a psychopath. It’s all because the movie did well. In the end he got paid, they called him, and it was that epilogue that we got to enjoy.

– With the World Cup just around the corner, new parts will be recorded for the United States, Mexico, and Canada following the national team?

– That’s great, but they have to win if they go, I want an epic.