SYNOPSIS: 

Fillos do vento: A Rapa is a modern Quixote story set in the rugged hills of Galicia, Spain, where an ancient ritual, Rapa das Bestas, becomes a battleground for heritage and progress. Every year, the villagers of Sabucedo come together to round up wild horses from the mountains, trimming their manes in a powerful display of human strength, respect, and connection to nature. 

But this centuries-old tradition now faces an existential threat as industrial wind farms encroach on the land, transforming the horizon and endangering the horses’ habitat. Like Don Quixote tilting at windmills, the villagers must confront these towering “giants” while grappling with the pressures of modernization. Through sweeping visuals, intimate stories, and the raw energy of the curro (arena), the film captures the community’s struggle to preserve not only their tradition but also their identity and the land that defines them. Featuring intimate interviews with key villagers, such as aloitadores like Carlos and his daughter Alba, and experts like Jorge, a horse whisperer, and Laura, an animal conservationist, "A Rapa" captures the raw energy of the festival and the emotional struggle to protect both land and tradition. A powerful look at the intersection of culture, nature, and modern challenges. The general feeling when restoring freedom to the horses is uncertainty, fearing that it could have been the last Rapa das Bestas.

Fillos do vento: A Rapa is a story of resilience, exploring the delicate balance between progress and preservation in a world where ancient customs face the unrelenting tide of change.

Credits

Executive Producer: Pedro Revaldería,  Brais Revaldería, María Fernanda Ordoñez Morla

Director: Brais Revaldería

Producer: Brais Revaldería (Cinexin Studios, 100 Sutton Studios)

Executive Producer: Pedro Revaldería

Creative Producer: María Fernanda Ordoñez Morla

Producer: Ignacio Linares

Producer: Alberto José Rey Basteiro (Wecom)

Director of Photography: Brais Revaldería‍

Cinematography: Edward de Carvalho, Pablo Villanueva‍

Camera Operator / Slow Motion: Antonio Urquijo

Composer & Sound Designer: Alex Aller

Sound : Alberto Mayoral ‍

Sound: Jacopo Messina ‍

Editing: Brais Revaldería, Eduardo García, Juan Thomas Cano, Sebastián Nazario Colón‍

Color Correction:  Brandon Jones

Drone Operator: Eduardo Prieto

Website Design: OHOS Media (Bach Le, Daniel Zambrano)

Production Assistants: Marga Pazos, Andrea Fernández, Ele Molejón, Maya Edmond, Julia Castro, Ridge Murphee

Production Companies: Cinexin Studios LLC (USA), Evernia Media S.L. (Spain), 100 Sutton Studios LLC (USA), WECOM (Spain)

Special Thanks: Rapa das Bestas Sabucedo Association, Xunta de Galicia, Diputación de Pontevedra, Concello a Estrada ‍

Filos do vento: A Rapa has been selected for work in progress at Hotdocs 2025