Spain

  • Gerardo Vera – Segunda piel AKA Second Skin (1999)

    1991-2000DramaGerardo VeraQueer Cinema(s)Spain

    Quote:
    Even though Pedro Almodóvar was a major creative force in blowing away the severity of the Franco years, his films – like “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” – still caused shock-horror in the Spanish heartland. “Second Skin”, though by another director (Gerardo Vera), will almost certainly do likewise. Like Almodóvar, Gerardo Vera kicks aside the Catholic certainties of conservative Spain as he delineates the instability of a marriage, specifically caused by a husband who is torn between his wife and another man.Read More »

  • Carlos Saura – La madriguera AKA Honeycomb (1969)

    1961-1970ArthouseCarlos SauraDramaSpainSpanish cinema under Franco

    Synopsis:
    ‘Teresa and Pedro have been married for five years and are settled in a routine, and a rather sterile home. He manages – and possibly owns – a factory, while she is a lady of leisure. The arrival of a collection of furniture from Teresa’s childhood family home triggers a nightmare and subsequent sleepwalking, followed by regressive and childish behaviour. Teresa replaces their furniture (in keeping with the modern – verging on Brutalist – architecture of their house) with what has arrived, which is distinctly different in style (dark wood and richly coloured fabrics). The film then settles into a series of extended role play ‘games’ between husband and wife that gradually get out of hand.’
    – Rebecca NaughtenRead More »

  • Jaime de Armiñán – El nido AKA The Nest (1980) (HD)

    Drama1971-1980Jaime de ArmiñánSpain

    The Nest (Spanish: El Nido) is a 1980 Spanish drama film written and directed by Jaime de Armiñán, starring Héctor Alterio and Ana Torrent.The plot follows the emotionally intense relationship between an old widower and a precocious thirteen-year-old girl. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 53rd Academy Awards.Read More »

  • Bigas Luna – La teta y la luna AKA The Tit and the Moon (1994)

    1991-2000Bigas LunaComedyDramaSpain

    Synopsis:
    This Spanish/French film presents a loving ode to a woman’s breasts and the three men who love them. The fairy tale is told from the viewpoint of 9-year old Tete, who jealous of his new brother’s access to his mother’s breasts, implores the moon to give him a nurturing breast of his own. French cabaret performers Estrellita, the Queen of Stuttgart, and her jealous husband Maurice, come to town with their surprisingly vulgar act. When Tete sees Estrellita, he knows his wish has been granted. Trailer-park electrician Miquel is also very attracted to Estrellita’s charming chest and begins serenade her. Tete gets to sample her charms after he brings her a frog.Read More »

  • Rafael Gil – Don Quijote de la Mancha (1947)

    1941-1950ClassicsComedyRafael GilSpainSpanish cinema under Franco

    Quote:
    The first sound film version in Spanish of the great classic novel by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. A huge undertaking for Spanish cinema in its day, it was the longest film version of the novel up to that time, and very likely the most faithful, reverently following the book in its dialogue and order of episodes.Read More »

  • Carlos Saura – La Caza AKA The Hunt (1966)

    1961-1970ArthouseCarlos SauraDramaSpainSpanish cinema under Franco

    Quote:
    Museo Valenciano de la Ilustración y la Modernidad writes:
    José, Paco and Luis, three middle-aged men who fought in the “national” side during the Spanish Civil War, meet in a village of Castilla to hunt rabbits, accompanied by young Enrique. But the hunting journey will stir up deep latent frustrations and rancours within the group. La Caza, which won the Silver Bear for the Best director in Berlin, was compared by critics with the most avant-garde films of that period. It had a remarkable influence on directors such as Sam Peckinpah, who found in this film a source of stylistic and thematic inspiration.Read More »

  • Pedro Aguilera – Naufragio aka Wreckage (2010)

    2001-2010ArthouseDramaPedro AguileraQueer Cinema(s)Spain

    http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4421/naufragioresize.jpg

    Quote:

    Illegal immigration is one of the most challenging problems facing Spain over these
    last few years. From among the thousands of immigrants entering the country by
    various means, there are hundreds and hundreds trying to reach Spanish territory on
    rudimentary open-decked vessels, most of them setting out from along the African
    coast. Many of these African immigrants fail to reach Spain and find their death in the
    sea.Read More »

  • Ventura Pons – Animals ferits AKA Wounded Animals (2006)

    2001-2010ComedySpainVentura Pons

    Three couples deal with the sticky issue of infidelity in this comedy-drama from Spanish filmmaker Ventura Pons. Silvio (Jose Coronado) is a well-to-do business executive who is seemingly happily married to Marcia (Cecilia Rossetto). However, Silvio is convinced Marcia is cheating on him, and frequently spies on her — ironically enough, he usually does so during assignations with his mistress, posh interior designer Claudia (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon). Meanwhile, Daniel (Marc Cartes), who works with Claudia, is enjoying a vacation with his wife Irina (Cristina Plazas), a front desk clerk at the hotel where Silvio usually romps with Claudia. Daniel is hoping the getaway will help put the spark back into their marriage, but he soon discovers Irina’s head has been turned by a trainer from a nearby health spa.Read More »

  • Juanma Bajo Ulloa – Alas de mariposa (1991)

    1991-2000DramaJuanma Bajo UlloaSpain

    Ami is a 6 year old girl, extremely sensitive. Her mother, Carmen, lives with the obsession of giving a son to her husband, Gabriel. When finally she gets pregnant, the relation between mother and daughter becomes a tragic one, driving the family to an inevitable nightmare.Read More »

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