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[title]The film Adiós Madrid premieres on August 28, starring Luciano Cáceres, who spent intense days shooting in the Spanish capital. At the same time, Cáceres takes the stage with Muerde, a visceral one-man show that, after its success in Buenos Aires, added dates at Timbre 4 (September 1, 8, and 15 – tickets here) and is now beginning a national and international tour.
In this interview, Cáceres talks about his passion for acting, the way he builds his characters, his experience filming Adiós Madrid, the challenge of being alone on stage in Muerde, as well as his roles as a father and theater director.
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH LUCIANO CÁCERES ON TOMÁ NOTA
At three years old, Luciano Cáceres had a revelation that would define his life: the stage was waiting for him. “I was literally conceived on a stage, but my first memory is at three years old, when I accompanied my father to perform a monologue. I knew it by heart and recited it from the audience until an usher took me out because everyone was watching me. They brought me backstage where I could see my father up close, at stage level. That’s when I discovered it was where I wanted to be, and just a few years later I started studying theater. Even today I remember part of that text my father recited.”
“I was literally conceived on a stage”
If he could talk to that little boy, he’d be straightforward: “I’d tell him to slow down his anxiety. I’m very anxious and overly responsible. I missed a lot of my youth because of my strong sense of responsibility. I’d also tell him to learn how to delegate.”
His path has allowed him to move naturally between film, theater, and television, though each medium challenges him differently: “I’m all-terrain. I love audiovisual work—the craftsmanship of film and the speed you need in TV. Theater is pure adrenaline, the miracle of live performance, the encounter with the audience and their immediate response; the fear and the joy of a job well done. I don’t feel comfortable anywhere, but in theater the actor carries more responsibility.”
“In theater, the actor has more responsibility”
In Adiós Madrid, Cáceres plays Ramiro, a man who must decide whether his father lives or dies. “It was a huge challenge. Ramiro rebuilds his relationship with his father through everything that happens that night in Madrid, and each encounter redefines him. The film shows a different city, one where anyone can be whoever they want. It’s a very powerful journey of healing.”
That role, he admits, inevitably connected him to his own biography and his roles as father and son. “My character experiences the loss of a father, and no matter what, that touches you. For those of us who’ve lost our fathers, this hits hard, and on the other side it brings the responsibility of being more present than ever with our children. I want to live a thousand years to be close to my daughter!”
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The shoot was intense and fast-paced. “Spectacular! 90% of it was at night, with an independent production—which is unusual there—and that requires a lot of availability from both the crew and the actors. It was tough: I started filming as soon as I landed. I changed clothes at immigration, got into a car waiting to take me to the first scene, and that’s how this beautiful madness began.”
“90% of Adiós Madrid was filmed at night, with an independent production”
Certain scenes left a deep mark: “The farewell with the father. It’s a long shot, almost like a theatrical monologue. The emotional weight was immense, and the atmosphere on set was very special. Some takes were lost because a cameraman couldn’t stop crying.”
Meanwhile, Muerde confronts him with a raw one-man show, in which he plays Renee, a character whose story resonates with Ramiro from Adiós Madrid. “It’s crazy, because both suffered abandonment at age ten, but in very different ways. Ramiro in Adiós Madrid built a family and moved forward, while Renee in Muerde was frozen in time. He became a man physically, but with the eyes of a child. I read Muerde while I was filming the movie and knew immediately it was what I wanted to do.”
Being alone on stage was a transformative experience: “I had never dared to perform a solo show until Muerde came along. I was very scared, but it allowed me to discover that spectators are great companions. What happens in a one-man show is like a unique ritual I had never experienced before. Being connected to the audience’s breathing, their laughter, their sniffles when the tears come. It’s a dangerous play, it keeps you on constant alert. I love it—I think it’s my best work, everything I’ve learned is poured into this piece.”
“Muerde is a dangerous play, it keeps you on constant alert”
In addition to acting, Luciano also directs: “It started by accident. My friend Sergio Surraco and I had been doing theater since we were kids, always in smaller roles, so we decided to star and direct each other. It was at a small theater in Boedo and became a phenomenon. I love building teams and taking on the responsibility of leading everyone toward the same goal.”
What’s next? “I’m working on a new play for next year. With Muerde we went rural, and now something more urban is coming. I can’t say much yet, but there will be hints soon.”