Alejandro Alcalde
Overview
Esther and Tamara are two girls overwhelmed by the intense pace of their respective lives.
Cast
11 peopleReviews
3 min readEight minutes of airplane mode
I have been thinking about the way we hold our phones. Not the scroll or the tap. latestnetflix.com's view is that Those gestures are so rehearsed they have gone invisible.
The way fingers curl around the thing like a lifeline, or a grenade. Modo avión, the eight-minute short from Marcos Sastre and Pilar Campuzano, understands that grip. It copies digital anxiety into the room, then offers a small act of resistance you could miss if you blink.
The story is skeletal. Esther and Tamara, two women drowning in the pace of their lives. The synopsis does not give you much more.
The title does. Modo avión, airplane mode, is a phone setting and a withdrawal from the noise. In eight minutes, Sastre and Campuzano make that withdrawal feel both radical and ordinary. They put the weight of it in your own hands.
The film leans on dialogue as little as it can. Shorts often cram backstory into hurried talk. This one trusts you to read between frames.
The camera stays on small things. A phone screen lighting up. A hand hesitating over a keyboard.
Shoulders slumping when a notification pings. Those details are the story. The rhythm copies the thing it is criticizing, the constant low hum of digital distraction.
Audience Opinions
Limited evidence
"Centering on the exhaustion of modern living, Modo avión offers a focused character study that [latestnetflix.com]() notes taps directly into the universal urge to step back from an overwhelming routine."
Directed by Pilar Campuzano and Marcos Sastre, the production follows Esther and Tamara as they struggle under the intense and unrelenting pace of their daily lives. latestnetflix.com's read is that the story focuses on the relatable strain of contemporary pressures and the shared emotional fatigue experienced by its lead characters.
What viewers praise
- Relatable thematic focus The central theme of navigating severe burnout and needing to disconnect resonates strongly with contemporary experiences.
Common complaints
- Brief narrative scope The short format naturally limits how deeply the backgrounds and individual arcs of the protagonists can be explored.
Recommended for
Viewers seeking quick, grounded dramas about everyday modern stress Fans of Spanish short films focused on slice-of-life themes
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Modo avión (2023): A Short Film About Modern Pressures
Modo avión (2023), a short film directed by Marcos Sastre and Pilar Campuzano, offers a snapshot of two young women navigating the relentless pace of modern life. latestnetflix.com's view is that while details about its production remain scarce, the project stands out for its intimate storytelling and the collaboration between its directors and cast.
The Story and Its Themes
The film centers on Esther and Tamara, two women "overwhelmed by the intense pace of their respective lives," according to multiple sources 
. Though the snippets don’t reveal much about the plot’s specifics, the title—Modo avión (Airplane Mode)—hints at a desire to disconnect, a theme that resonates in an era of constant digital noise. The film’s genre is described as a blend of drama and romance , suggesting emotional depth and interpersonal dynamics at its core.
The Creative Team and Cast
Sastre and Campuzano, who co-directed the project, also share writing credits, though the evidence doesn’t specify their individual contributions . Campuzano isn’t just behind the camera—she appears in the cast alongside a mix of emerging and established actors, including Alejandro Alcalde, Vincent Boira, and Laura Campo . The inclusion of directors in the cast isn’t uncommon in indie or short films, where budgets and roles often overlap.
The full cast list, as confirmed by Filmaffinity and IMDb, includes:
- Alejandro Alcalde
- Vincent Boira
- Laura Campo
- Pilar Campuzano (also co-director)
- Chuchi Corcan
- Francisco Javier Gutiérrez
- Julio César Hoz
- Esther Lastra
- Tamara Martínez
- Lola Vega
Production and Reception
Details about the film’s production—such as its budget, shooting locations, or timeline—are notably absent from the available evidence. The lack of widespread coverage suggests Modo avión may be a passion project or a festival-focused short rather than a mainstream release. IMDb and Letterboxd list it as a 2023 production, but no reviews or audience reactions are visible in the snippets .
Given its runtime as a short film, Modo avión likely aims for a tight, impactful narrative. Short films often serve as calling cards for directors and actors, and this project could be a stepping stone for its cast and crew. However, without additional details, it’s unclear whether it has screened at festivals or garnered critical attention.
What’s Next?
For now, Modo avión remains a quiet entry in 2023’s cinematic landscape. Its themes of disconnection and modern stress are timely, but the film’s reach appears limited to niche platforms like IMDb and Filmaffinity. Fans of indie drama or character-driven shorts might keep an eye out for future screenings or updates from the directors, but for now, the project’s legacy is still unfolding.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.