“Look into their eyes” director Infiltrada en el búnker says

The Spanish documentary Infiltrada en el búnker (Undercover. Inside the bunker) by director Pablo de la Chica entered the Top 10 most-watched movies on Prime Video in Spain since its release on June 27.

The documentary tells the captivating story of Carlota Saorsa (not her real name), an undercover activist who spent 544 days working inside the animal testing laboratory Vivotecnia in Spain, secretly filming what she witnessed.

Carlota’s footage, captured with hidden cameras in her glasses, exposes disturbing scenes from what she calls “the bunker”, a place where animals are used for pharmaceutical experiments.

Her two-year infiltration, one of the longest ever documented in such a setting, reveals the horror animals experience in these places.

Director Pablo de la Chica spent years working closely with Carlota on the film, explains that Infiltrada en el búnker is not just for vegans or animal rights activists: “This is for everyone. It’s not about politics or lifestyle. It’s about seeing what’s really happening.”

The film combines real footage from the lab with dramatized scenes featuring Spanish actress Goize Blanco, who plays Carlota. This structure allowed the production to protect Carlota’s identity while still sharing her experience.

Now under witness protection, Carlota remains hidden from the public, but her story is reaching a global audience.

‘Look into their eyes’

De la Chica was deeply moved by Carlota’s commitment. “She told me: look into their eyes, the rat, the rabbit, the dog, the monkey. That’s where the truth is,” he recalls.

The footage shows animals suffering, but the film avoids showing the most graphic scenes to keep viewers engaged and reflective. “If you show the worst, people shut down. But if you let them imagine, they start to ask questions,” he says.

One of the most emotional moments in the film is Carlota’s bond with a dog known as Number 32, later named Chess. She eventually managed to rescue him.

“The moment he first touched grass, smelled air, and ran free, like he was alive for the first time,” Pablo said. But such rescues are rare. “Labs don’t want these animals adopted,” he explains. “They’re created to be used and killed.”

The film also sheds light on the psychological impact on workers inside these labs. Carlota was told that to be a good technician, she must not feel empathy for the animals. “This is not about one lab. It’s an industry,” says Pablo. “It trains people to stop being human.”

Telling the truth

Despite the shocking footage, the director explains Infiltrada en el búnker is not anti-science. “There are alternatives. The problem is, governments are not investing in them,” he says.

Carlota’s mission was to bring this hidden world to light. “If people don’t know the truth, they can’t demand change.”

The documentary has already sparked strong public reactions. In Spain, it quickly became one of the top-viewed films on Prime Video. But it has also led to threats against the director.

“I’ve had messages and calls trying to intimidate me,” he admits. “But that’s part of telling the truth.”

Pablo hopes the film will move audiences around the world to reflect and act. “I don’t expect to change your life,” he says. “But maybe I can plant a seed that starts change.”

Carlota’s fight continues. As Pablo puts it, “She’ll never stop. For her, activism is not a trend. It’s who she is.”