Richard Gere expected chaos in Spain when he arrived from New York after the blackout - What he found instead surprised him: “Everyone was so polite”
The actor, who arrived in Barcelona on Monday just as a massive power outage hit the country, praised how Spaniards handled the unexpected situation.
The last Monday in April turned out to be a reminder of how unpredictable life can be - and on a day already infamous for being the start of the workweek. In a matter of seconds, Spain lost most of its electricity. Without power, the country found itself leaning into a strange mix of camaraderie and surrealism, as people filled the streets and plazas with an air of cheerful uncertainty. Among those caught right in the middle of it all was Richard Gere.
The Oscar-nominated actor had just landed in Barcelona from New York when he was met with a country in the dark. Fearing the worst, he braced for chaos, but it never came.
Massive power blackout in Spain and Portugal! No internet, payment are off and flights are cancelled.
— Alex Socoloff (@socoloffalex) April 28, 2025
Media: Chaos! People are in Panic!
What really happened: We just took blankets, beer and had a great time all together. pic.twitter.com/VQsxXexmEc
“It was a wonderful experience”
“Everyone was incredibly polite,” Gere said the following day during a Q&A session after the screening of the documentary “Wisdom of Happiness”, which he co-produced, at the 9th annual Barcelona Sant Jordi International Film Festival (BCN Film Fest).
With a touch of humor, Gere described how he and his wife, Alejandra Silva, experienced the blackout quite differently, and he praised how calmly and graciously people responded. “I know Spanish drivers are crazy,” he joked, “but everyone was so polite and kind.”
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Gere saw the outage as a rare moment for people to connect more genuinely. “People were playing music on the streets with radios, sharing food... I think it helped break the routine of our usual selfishness,” he reflected, clearly moved by the unexpected beauty of the moment. “It was truly a wonderful experience we had yesterday.”
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