This is our 10th year and for 10 days we are offering you - at both the Ciné Lumière and the Instituto Cervantes - a wealth of film screenings, talks, tertulias, book presentations and Q&As with filmmakers and actors. It will all be about films that will astonish, educate, fascinate, grip or simply entertain you.
TL05/10
This year we are pleased to present some really delightful comedies, such as our hilarious opening film, Tres bodas de más, and Sánchez Arévalo's latest comedy-drama, La gran familia española.
Some films will offer glimpses into every-day life in Spain, such as Historias de Lavapiés or Os fenomenos. Others will examine the current situation in Spanish cinema, as well as its future (our Love Letter to Cinema section).
The relationship between food and film is something that has often been explored in cinema over the last few years - both in Spain and beyond. This year we are delighted to offer you some more “culinary cinema”, with The Food Guide to Love and El somni.
Our Sixth Catalan Window will once more offer a glimpse into what has been produced in Catalonia - and the wealth of talent and craft there - with a small but strong selection of films such as producer Lluis Miñarro's first feature film, Stella Cadente, or Pau Teixidor's tense thriller Purgatorio.
The strength of Basque cinema will be celebrated in our Fifth Basque Window, offering - among other long and short films - Las brujas de Zugarramurdi, another demonstration of Álex de la Iglesia's distinctive and fascinating style. There will also be a special session with the screening of three short films showing two American filmmakers’ vision of the Basque Country: Orson Welles and Cyrus Sutton.
Sophisticated but controversial, Vicente Aranda is one of Spain's most renowned filmmakers, and his films - exploring such themes as jealousy, sexual desire or complex social issues - have become cinematic classics. Taking the Prada brothers’ documentary, Vicente Aranda: 50 años de cine, as a starting point, we have dedicated a special feature to him. In it we explore some of the most important films of his career, as well as staging an exclusive interview with him.
Last but not least, once again we have a treasure from the archives, which this year will be La vida en un hilo, a delightful screwball comedy by Hollywood devotee Edgar Neville, with Conchita Montes, one of Spain's most popular actresses in the 1940s and ‘50s.
Film screenings and events will take place at Ciné Lumière and Instituto Cervantes.
The London Spanish Film Festival is organised by Tristana Media in collaboration with the Institut Français, the Cultural Office of the Spanish Embassy and the Instituto Cervantes.
For the full programme go to: www.londonspanishfilmfestival.com
For further information, please, contact:
at the London Spanish Film Festival:
Noemi Cuetos Fernández | noemi@tristanamedia.com
Giulio Olesen | 07472326740 | office@londonspanishfilmfestival.com
at Ciné lumière:
Natacha Antolini | natacha.antolini@institutfrancais.org.uk
Justine Goy | 020 7871 3521 | justine.goy@institutfrancais.org.uk
Screenings and events listed below will take place at Ciné Lumière unless otherwise stated.
CORE PROGRAMME
HISTORIAS DE LAVAPIÉS
Lavapiés
Dir. Ramón Luque, with Guillermo Toledo, Sandra Collantes, Rafael Reaño, Eduardo Velasco | Spain | 2014 | col | 91 min | cert. 12 | In Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
A glimpse into the every-day life of a high-school teacher, which gives us a view of Madrid's Lavapiés, a neighbourhood characterised by a large immigrant population. Different cultures and social classes coexist, even though they clash at times. However, dialogue is encouraged which, eventually, gives rise to a sense of solidarity. Luque's film exposes Lavapiés' current social reality - and, by extension, that of Spain - with insight and optimism.
Introduced by actress Sandra Collantes.
Thu 25 Sep | 6.30pm | £10, conc. £8
TRES BODAS DE MÁS
Three Many Weddings
Dir. Javier Ruiz Caldera, with Inma Cuesta, Martiño Rivas, Quim Gutiérrez, Paco León | Spain | 2013 | col | 94 min | cert. 15 | In Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
Scientist Ruth is publicly dumped by her boyfriend at her boss's wedding and, to her chagrin, a few months later receives invitations to the nuptials of him and two other ex-boyfriends. At the first of these weddings she falls for Jonás, a plastic surgeon, only to learn at the next wedding that he has lied to her. Ruth's life seems to be a complete disaster, although fortunately her new intern is there to give her moral support. Hilarious at times and always entertaining, this comedy is about a woman who questions her love-life, while also discovering what she wants from life.
Preceded by an introduction (tba)
Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and Spanish ham, courtesy of Spanish Master Ham, from 7.45pm.
Thu 25 Sep | 8.30pm | £10, conc. £8
LAS MAESTRAS DE LA REPÚBLICA
The Female Teachers of the Republic
Dir. Pilar Pérez Solano, with Marta Barriuso, Laura de Pedro | Spain | 2013 | col | doc | 65 min | cert. PG | In Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
Education was one of the greatest social tenets of Spain's Second Republic, with the objective of bringing culture and education to every corner of the country in order to achieve a fairer, more equitable and harmonious society. A group of women, standing for modernity and independence, took these principles to heart, bringing down the walls between male and female students. Winner of this year's Best Documentary Goya Award, Las maestras de la República explores the experiences and ideals of all those pioneers whose project was so savagely destroyed by the Civil War that started in 1936.
Followed by a cine-tertulia, or informal meeting, to discuss the film in the salons of the Institut Français.
Sat 27 Sep | 4.30pm | £10, conc. £8
LA GRAN FAMILIA ESPAÑOLA
Family United
Dir. Daniel Sánchez Arévalo, with Antonio de la Torre, Verónica Echegui, Quim Gutiérrez, Patrick Criado | Spain | 2013 | col | 95 min | cert. 12 | In Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
Sánchez Arévalo's new film combines what are two very important subjects in Spain - family and football - with his customary ability to combine a witty sense of humour with profound drama. Set against the World Cup final, a father gathers together his sons in the family farm to celebrate the wedding of the youngest, who is set to marry his childhood sweetheart. As the father suffers a stroke, the wedding is kept on hold and many interesting and surprising family dynamics rise up to the surface...
Preceded by the short, MEETING WITH SARAH JESSICA
Dir. Vicente Villanueva, with Inma Cuevas, Montserrat Roig de Puig | Spain | 2013 | col | 20 min| In Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
Dori finally achieves her dream: having dinner with her favourite actress.
Followed by a Q&A
Sat 27 Sep | 8.30pm | £10, conc. £8
OS FENOMENOS
Aces | Los fenómenos
Dir. Alfonso Zarauza, with Lola Dueñas, Miguel de Lira, Luis Tosar, Ledicia Sola | Spain | 2014 | col | 99 min | cert. tba | In Galician and Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
Against the background of Spain's economic crisis, a woman starts to work in the only place she can find a job: a building site, as part of an all-men work team who call themselves “the aces”. Lola Dueñas invites admiration, rather than compassion, as a single mother fighting to keep her life together and earn the respect of her colleagues. In what is Zarauza’s second feature film, he avoids any kind of sentimentality or pity and, with the help of a well-structured script and the impressive performance of the cast, makes it a high-calibre drama with traces of tender humour.
Mon 29 Sep | 6.30pm | £10, conc. £8
10.000 NOCHES EN NINGUNA PARTE
10,000 Nights Nowhere
Dir. Ramón Salazar, with Andrés Gertrúdix, Susi Sánchez, Lola Dueñas, Najwa Nimri | Spain | 2014 | col | 113 min | cert. 16 | In Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
A young man whose existence seems to be overwhelmed by feelings of depression and despair gathers the courage to embark on a journey to two cities he has never been to: Paris and Berlin. There he will discover his wish to fly far away and leave behind a traumatic past and a life dominated by his troubled mother. Beautifully shot, Salazar's film experiments with narrative, cinematography, improvisation and script. Indeed, he does everything he can to make a very different film from anything he has done before. A wonderful, engaging film, free of any label.
Mon 29 Sep | 8.30pm | £10, conc. £8
TODO PARECÍA PERFECTO
Everything Seemed Perfect
Dir. Alejo Levis, with Jordi Rico, Andrea Trepat | Spain | 2014 | col | 76 min | cert. tba | In Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
A man dreams about a romance with a woman he doesn't know, in which he ends up losing her. When he wakes up he decides to reproduce in real life the moment in the dream in which he meets her, hoping that in this way he will be able to conjure her up so the story can start again... Todo parecía perfecto is the surprising debut feature film of Alejo Levis, a film with fantastic surrealist tinges, stunning photography and beautifully crafted performances that will immerse you in a wonderful, enjoyable dream.
Tue 30 Sep | 6.30pm | £10, conc. £8
DIOSES Y PERROS
Dioses y perros
Dir. David Marqués and Rafa Montesinos, with Hugo Silva, Megan Montaner, Juan Codina and Elio González | Spain | 2014 | 84 min | col | cert. tba | In Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
Pasca works as a boxing sparrer in an effort to earn some money, having abandoned his promising boxing career when the car he was driving crashed and killed his parents and left his brother in a wheelchair. Daily life is a painful existence, finding small jobs, earning a bit of money, getting his old friends out of trouble, and taking care of his brother. Dioses y perros is a film about facing our fears, getting on in life, finding and accepting love... and, ultimately, about hope.
Wed 1 Oct | 6.30pm | £10, conc. £8
THE FOOD GUIDE TO LOVE
Amor en su punto
Dir. Dominic Harari and Teresa Pelegri, with Richard Coyle, Leonor Watling, Ciara Bailey and Michelle Beamish | Spain/Ireland | 2013 | 91 min | col | cert. tba | In English
UK premiere
Oliver Byrne is the ultimate foodie, and The Food Guide to Love, his ultimate book about food. A connoisseur of fine food (with a particular liking for tapas from an early age), Oliver became a major success in Ireland thanks to his approach to food writing and his emphasis on the sensual aspect of food. His love life, however, is not as stable as his career, and he has serious problems maintaining relationships. That is, until he meets the Spanish Bibiana... A delicious romantic comedy about love, dreams and mistakes, with some spicy ingredients.
Fri 3 Oct | 8.30pm | £10, conc. £8
¿QUIEN MATÓ A BAMBI?
Who Killed Bambi?
Dir. Santi Amodeo, with Clara Lago, Quim Gutiérrez, Julián Villagrán, Ernesto Alterio | Spain | 2013 | 89 min | col | cert. 12 | In Spanish with English subtitles
Two friends must find a way for the president of the company they work for - who happens to be the father in law of one of them and, for some strange reason, he's closed, half-naked in the trunk of his own car - to return safely and honorably back to his home. At the same time, a frustrated business man anguished by debts and his partner are planning a kidnapping and, by some very unfortunate coincidences, they end up kidnapping his own father... A crazy black comedy by Sevillian Santi Amodeo where the pressures of the economic crisis can push to crime!
Followed by a Q&A (tba)
SHORTS SESSION: WILD REALITY
VIDA SALVAJE |Wild life
Dir. Álvaro Yebra, with Mario Yebra Castillo | Spain | 2014| col | 5 min | In Spanish with English Subtitles
International premiere
“This Friday our teacher told us to write an essay about animals. She asked us to talk about domestic and wild animals explaining the differences between them with examples…”
CLICK
Dir. Irene Iborra, Eduard Puertas, with Michele Rossi | Spain | 2013| col |14 min | No dialogue
UK premiere
A fish breaks into the work routine of a workaholic, then…CLICK.
2 / 05
Dir. Nacho A. Villar, with Asunción Balaguer, Pedro Grande | Spain | 2014 | col | 9 min | In Spanish with English Subtitles
UK premiere
Three different worlds coming to an end: a house growing empty and an elder couple in the last stage of their lives.
FIRME USTED AQUÍ | Sing here
Dir. Rodrigo Zarza, with Lourdes Bartolomé, Manuel Millan, José Ruiz, Fernando Albizu, José Martinez | Spain | 2013 | col | 10 min | In Spanish with English Subtitles
UK premiere
Spain. Faced with the progressive aging of the population and the dire economic situation, the Administration launches an assisted euthanasia campaign aimed at so-called “unproductive beings”. Keen to put their hands on the amount of money set for the substitution of the old man, the Arévalo family will try to get rid of Granddad…unaware that he has a plan of his own.
INERTIAL LOVE
Dir. César Esteban Alenda, José Esteban Alenda with Javier Rey, Anna Allen, Manuela Vellés | Spain | 2013 | col | 6 min | In Spanish with English Subtitles
UK premiere
The relationship between Javier and Anna runs out of gas. She hits the brakes and Javier is dragged by inertia until he learns to get over it.
NENA | Girl
Dir. Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, with Fabia Castro, Denisse Peña | Spain | 2014 | col | 12 min | In Spanish with English Subtitles
International premiere
Javier Gorrigaramendi was the first boy who broke Ana´s heart. Sixteen years later he appears. Ana Teenager doesn’t want to open the door. What does Ana Adult want?
LES CLAUS | The keys | Las llaves
Dir. Pau López, with Aleix Albareda, Glòria Cano | Spain | 2014 | col | 9 min | In Catalan with English Subtitles
International premiere
What if love is a game you can only win by cheating?
NO TIENE GRACIA | Not Funny
Dir. Carlos Violadé, with Mercedes Bernal, Andrés Berlanga | Spain | 2013 | col | 15 min | In Spanish with English Subtitles
UK premiere
Manolo and María are in love and live together. Manolo likes to play jokes constantly. María has a lot of patience and good sense of humour. Manolo doesn’t know that to make a joke, one has to assume all the consequences.
Thu 25 Sep | 6.30pm | £3 | Instituto Cervantes
Sat 27 Sep | 4.00pm | £3 | Instituto Cervantes
CATALAN WINDOW
PURGATORIO
Purgatory
Dir. Pau Teixidor, with Oona Chaplin, Sergi Méndez, Andrés Gertrúdix, Ana Fernández | Spain | 2014 | col | 85 min | cert. 12 | In Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
Marta, a woman in her early 30s, moves into a new apartment with her husband. It is a brand new building and, alone on her first night there, her only neighbour knocks desperately on the door, begging her to watch for her young son while she goes to hospital to see her husband, who has just been in a car accident. But the hours go by and the boy's behaviour becomes increasingly strange and erratic, saying that there's another boy hiding in the house. Chaplin's nuanced performance as a mother who has lost her son is a boon to this gripping psychological thriller, Teixidor's first feature film.
Followed by a Q&A with Oona Chaplin (tbc)
Fri 26 Sep | 8.30pm | £10, conc. £8
TOTS VOLEM EL MILLOR PER A ELLA
We All Want What's Best for Her | Todos queremos lo mejor para ella
Dir. Mar Coll, with Nora Navas, Valeria Bertuccelli, Clara Segura, Àgata Roca | Spain | 2013 | col | 100 min | cert. 7 | In Catalan and Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
One year after a serious car accident, Geni is ready to get on with her old life... or at least that's what her whole family think. The truth is that, in spite of her efforts, she's unable to make everyone happy, and her old life does not interest her at all. Indeed, a plan is growing inside her: escape. With an impressive performance by the whole cast and, especially, by lead actress Nora Navas, Catalan filmmaker Mar Coll questions bourgeois values, as well as the obligation to conform with what is expected from us.
Sun 28 Sep | 7.30pm | £10, conc. £8
STELLA CADENTE
Falling Star
Dir. Luis Miñarro, with Àlex Brendemühl, Lorenzo Balducci, Francesc Garrido, Barbara Lennie, Gonzalo Cunill | Spain | 2014 | 105 min | col | cert tbc | Catalan and Spanish with English subtitles
London premiere
Tormented and anxious due to the royal court and its machinations, and surrounded by Machiavellian ministers and contemptuous servants, Amadeo - played by an outstanding Alex Brendemühl - dreams of turning Spain into a parliamentary monarchy that guarantees progress, justice, education and a more equitable distribution of wealth. Unable to take any action, and feeling lonely in his Spanish castle, he awaits the arrival of his wife by seeking pleasure in aesthetic contemplation. Miñarro's first feature film (he has directed two documentaries and produced several audacious films by Guerin, Rebollo, Oliveira...) is an exquisite insight into the short-lived reign of Amadeo I of Spain, which shares some similarities with Spain's current political situation. It is beautifully shot, with genuine and realistic simplicity.
Followed by a Q&A with director Luis Miñarro
Wed 1 oct | 8.30pm | £10, conc. £8
BASQUE WINDOW
AMAREN ESKUAK
My Mother's Hands | Las manos de mi madre
Dir. Mireia Gabilondo, with Ainara Gurrutxaga, Loli Astoreka, Esther Remiro, Mark Schardan | Spain | 2013 | col | 95 min | cert. 12 | In Basque and English, with English subtitles
UK premiere
Nerea is a mother trying to maintain a balance between her family life and her profession as a journalist. The equilibrium that characterizes her life is upset in just one day when her mother, Luisa, has to be checked into hospital with total memory loss. Nerea discovers a new aspect to her mother's life and also becomes aware of the similarities between their past experiences and the ghosts that dwell in their memories. Based on author Karmele Jaio's book of the same name, My Mother's Hands subtly captures the lack of communication in today's life, as well as visceral guilt. Ultimately, it also shows us how an entire set-up can fall apart when routine breaks down.
Preceded by the short ZELA TROVKE | Cutting Grass | Cortando la hierba
Dir. Asier Altuna, with the Holland Baroque Society | Spain | 2013 | col | doc | 13 min | In Basque and English, with English subtitles
UK premiere
Typical of Central Europe, moritats are old folk songs about crimes. Cutting Grass is a moritat from Slovakia, which the Holland Baroque Society has recovered to incorporate into its Barbaric Beauty programme. Maite Larburu, the orchestra’s violinist, unveils the song’s hidden secrets.
Fri 26 Sep | 6.30pm | £10, conc. £8
TRES 60
Three-60
Dir. Alejandro Ezcurdia, with Raúl Mérida, Guillermo Estrella, Sara Sálamo | Spain | 2013 | col | 98 min | cert. 15 | In Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
Guillermo is a student whose passion is surfing, and who cannot stop thinking about the beautiful Daniela. When he finds a roll of film containing several intriguing images, he starts a dangerous investigation to uncover the dark story behind them. With the help of his best friend, his genius younger brother and Daniela, he will get closer and closer to the truth.... Ezcurdia’s first feature film is a compelling juvenile thriller with an unexpected ending, which shakes the lives and consciences of the characters involved. The film also features the surprise appearance of Geraldine Chaplin as the evil Jean Christophe.
Sat 27 Sep | 6.30pm | £10, conc. £8
VIOLET
Dir. Luiso Berdejo, with Junio Valverde, Leticia Dolera | Spain | 2013 | 90 min | col | cert. tba | In Spanish and English, with English subtitles
Alex is a young Spaniard living in Santa Monica, California. One day, he falls in love with a girl in an old Polaroid and decides to look for her, even if he doesn't have a clue about who she is, her whereabouts or how long ago the picture was taken... As the days go by, the search will lead Alex to his deceased grandfather whom he loved so much and to the most secret and authentic corners of his soul... Luiso Berdejo's second feature film (his first one was the American thriller The New Daughter, with Kevin Costner in the leading role) is a love story of rare beauty that will take you in an emotional journey with Alex.
Sun 5 Oct | 6.30pm | £10, conc. £8
LAS BRUJAS DE ZUGARRAMURDI
Witching and Bitching
Dir. Álex de la Iglesia, with Hugo Silva, Mario Casas, Carolina Bang, Carmen Maura, Terele Pávez, Carlos Areces and Secun de la Rosa | Spain | 2013 | col | 112 min | cert. 18 | In Spanish with English subtitles
London premiere
Two inept crooks try to escape to France after a dim-witted robbery in Madrid - one of them carrying his eight-year-old son with him. As they travel, they talk about the horrendousness of women until they arrive at a small Basque town called Zugarramurdi, which is where legends say witchcraft was born... De la Iglesia has gathered some of Spain's biggest stars in a mad, nail-biting film that combines horror with comedy in a way that will keep you on the edge of your seats.
Preceded by the short COLERA | Cholera
Dir. Aritz Moreno, with Luis Tosar, Iñake Irastorza | Spain | 2013 | col | 6 min | In Spanish with English subtitles
Cholera: Path. Acute, infectious disease, often epidemic and very serious.
Tue 30 Sep | 8.15pm | £10, conc. £8
Sun 5 Oct | 4.30pm | £10, conc. £8
SPECIAL FETURE: ARANDA
TIEMPO DE SILENCIO
Time of Silence
Dir. Vicente Aranda, with Victoria Abril, Imanol Arias | Spain | 1986 | 111 min | col | cert. 18 | In Spanish with English subtitles
Based on the novel by Luis Martín-Santos, Tiempo de silencio is set in the early years of Franco's regime and follows the story of a young and ambitious doctor researching cancerous cells in mice. He is wrongly accused of killing a woman, when he was really trying to save her life after a botched abortion. Sex, incest, jealousy, death, post-war misery and lack of enlightenment are all explored here with Aranda's usual craft and insight.
Tue 30 Sep | 6.30pm | £3 | Instituto Cervantes
SI TE DICEN QUE CAÍ
If They Tell You I Fell
Dir. Vicente Aranda, with Jorge Sanz, Victoria Abril, Antonio Banderas | Spain | 1989 | 189 min | col | cert. 18 | In Spanish with English subtitles
In the old quarter of post-Civil War Barcelona, the population struggles to survive amongst the ruins and desolation. Living there is Java, a young man determined to leave this misery behind, performing perverse sexual acts for the voyeuristic pleasure of a wealthy man in order to earn some extra money. In one of those encounters he meets Ramona, with whom he inevitably falls in love. Told in the manner of what in Catalan is known as aventis (open-ended stories mixing reality with fantasy told by Catalan children after the Civil War, sitting in circles amongst the ruins), the film is fascinating and complex. It was adapted from the novel by Catalan author Juan Marsé.
Wed 1 Oct | 6.30pm | £3 | Instituto Cervantes
VICENTE ARANDA: 50 AÑOS DE CINE
Vicente Aranda: 50 Years of Cinema
Dir. J Prada and K.Prada, with Vicente Aranda | Spain | 2013 | 74 min | col | cert. PG | In Spanish with English subtitles
A journey guided by Vicente Aranda himself through one of Spain's most solid cinematic careers, the themes that have most concerned him (love, hatred, death, sexual desire, jealousy...) the actors he's worked regularly with, his beginnings... A unique and insightful immersion in Aranda's world cleverly directed by the Prada brothers, who have directed several short documentaries previously.
The film will be presented by Vicente Aranda.
Fri 3 Oct | 6.30pm | £3 | Instituto Cervantes
FATA MORGANA
Left-Handed Fate
Dir. Vicente Aranda, with Teresa Gimpera, Marianne Benet, Marcos Martí Antonio Ferrandis | Spain/West Germany | 1965 | 84 min | col | cert. | In Spanish with English subtitles
UK Premiere
Gim is in a complex relationship with Alvaro, who is also linked to the jealous Miriam. Gim is believed to be the next victim of a killer, and the difficult mission to rescue her has been handed to JJ... Aranda's second film is brave and startling, as well as enigmatic. Its captivating visual style was inspired by TV commercials, pop art and comic strips. Fata Morgana is typical of the Barcelona School, a 1960s avant-garde movement of Catalan filmmakers moving away from the social realism that characterised New Spanish Cinema, and taking cues from the French New Wave.
Fri 3 oct | 6.30pm | £10, conc. £8
CARMEN
Dir. Vicente Aranda, with Paz Vega, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Antonio Dechent, Joan Crosas | Spain/UK/Italy | 2003 | 119 min | col | cert. 15 | In Spanish, Basque, French with English subtitles
Based on Prosper de Merimée's 19th-century novel, the film follows the life of José, a military officer, and his tormented - and, ultimately, deadly - passion for Carmen, an insolent and untrustworthy gypsy working in a cigar factory in Andalusia. Desire and betrayal are recurrent themes in director Aranda's filmography, and here they are central to this shadowy story about blind, carnal passion. Jealousy is depicted here as a destructive force, and the woman's sexual freedom as a threat to the man's honour. Well played and with a strong script, Carmen is considered to be one of Aranda's best films.
Sat 4 Oct | 3.30pm | £10, conc. £8
LIBERTARIAS
Freedom Fighters
Dir. Vicente Aranda, with Ana Belén, Victoria Abril, Ariadna Gil and Loles León | Spain/Italy/Belgium | 1996 | 125 min | col | cert. 18 | In Spanish with English subtitles | UK premiere
During the Spanish Civil War, María, a young nun, is forced to leave her convent when it is attacked, and takes refuge in a brothel, where she meets - and eventually joins - a group of anarchist women. They are fighting for freedom, not only in general, but in particular for women. They are struggling against both the Nationals and the men on their own side of the war. In 1996, Aranda's film rescued those who lost the Spanish Civil War from oblivion. Meanwhile, also central to the film are women, with an emphasis on their status as subordinates.
Sat 4 Oct | 6.00pm | £10, conc. £8
AMANTES
Lovers
Dir. Vicente Aranda, with Victoria Abril, Jorge Sanz, Maribel Verdú | Spain | 1992 | 103 min | col | cert. 18 | In Spanish with English subtitles
Set in the conservative and repressive society of Spain in the 1950s, Lovers is a film noir about the complexity of a young man's feelings towards two women: his girlfriend (a naïve maid played by a wonderful Maribel Verdú) and his landlady (an attractive and cunning widow played by a superb Victoria Abril). The extraordinary chemistry of Jorge Sanz - one of Spain's best actors in the 1990s - with the two lead actresses, together with the outstanding script (which was based on real events), makes Amantes one of Aranda's most accomplished works and a classic of Spanish cinema.
The film will be preceded by an on-stage conversation between Vicente Aranda and Prof. Peter Evans (Queen Mary).
Sat 4 oct | 8.30pm | £10, conc. £8
A TREASURE FROM THE ARCHIVES
LA VIDA EN UN HILO
Dir. Edgar Neville, with Conchita Montes, Rafael Durán, Guillermo Marín | Spain | 1945 | b&w | 92 min | cert. PG | In Spanish with English subtitles
UK premiere
La vida en un hilo (“life in a thread”) is the story of a woman who makes a decision that will define the rest of her life. The director, Edgar Neville, was a Spanish aristocrat who dedicated his life to writing and directing, spending periods of time in Hollywood and Rome. A great fan of Hollywood's filmmaking style, he approached this romantic tale as a screwball comedy. The rich dialogue, the wonderful performances of the cast, the nuanced humour and the subtle but poignant irony about provincial, hypocritical Spanish society make this film a real treasure from the archives - and surprisingly modern considering the period and context in which it was made.
Sun 28 Sep | 6.15pm | £10, conc. £8