BFI London Film Festival 2026: Prince

Writer and Director: Federico Borgia

Prince, from writer and director Federico Borgia, flirts with a number of styles. There are elements of a comedy of embarrassment and even dark humour.  But the overall tone is a melancholic sense of people drifting through life without direction or a sense of purpose.

Isabel (Maitina De Marco) lives an indolent lifestyle. She lazes the days away drinking and having massages from Jaime (Salvador Gaetan), her former lover turned butler.  The only effort expended is on behalf of Prince, her elegant and beloved Afghan hound. Isabel and Jamie only bother to dress up and leave the house when Prince is entered in competitions.

The unexpected death of Isabel prompts change. Her predatory son Carlos (Esteban Bigliardi) immediately evicts Jamie from the luxurious home he has enjoyed. But Carlos has not anticipated that Isabel’s will leaves her home to Prince which entitles Jamie to continue living there on condition he care for the hound. However, Isabel’s relatives are sore losers and her granddaughter Victoria (Cecilia Marani) takes up residence in the house uninvited. Things become even more complicated when it becomes apparent Isabel’s death was not from natural causes.

None of the characters in Prince has any sense of direction. Jaime’s estranged son Diego (Soledad Pelayo), aspires to be a musician but does not take any action, such as attending auditions or organising concerts, just sits around waiting for an opportunity to fall into his lap. Carlos has squandered funds on a number of get rich quick schemes and Victoria has vague ideas of turning Isabel’s home into a hotel but is content to just laze around the swimming pool.

The atmosphere is morally murky.  A solicitor explains the terms of the will allow Prince to reside in Isabel’s home until his death and then goes on to point out, in blunt terms, if the hound has a fatal accident the house will become available for sale.

Although Isabel appears wealthy there is no sense of glamour in the film rather her household seems to have gone to seed. When undertaking his duties as butler Jamie prefers to wear a vest and shorts rather than a uniform or even formal clothing.  Salvador Gaetan avoids any romantic appeal for Jamie appearing paunchy with thinning hair styled in an unflattering comb-over.

The hound, Prince, brings pleasure to canine enthusiasts when appearing in dog shows but the other characters are selfish.  Jamie does, however, try to repair the damaged relationship with his son by inviting Diego to move into the posh pad with him. Gaetan brings an overwhelming sense of weariness to the role of Jamie. He seems so worn out as to be reduced to passivity.  This has both comedic and tragic aspects. In one of the few purely comic sequences Jamie allows the other characters to try their schemes for the house resulting in a bizarre combination of gymnasium and spa.

On a more serious level, however, Jamie is incapable of taking any positive action. He might not be able to bring himself to cause a fatal accident for Prince but is equally incapable of intervening when it seems Diego is willing to take the necessary action. Jamie is reduced to floating aimlessly in the swimming pool which seems symbolic of the directionless lives of the characters.

Prince is a film easier to appreciate than enjoy. The characters are well-drawn but hard to like and the atmosphere of futility is oppressive.  Audiences might have to approach the movie with caution; if you’re not in the mood for the subtle deadpan humour you could end up feeling as jaded as the characters.

Prince is screening at the BFI London Film Festival 2026 from 7-18 October.