Category Archives: Spanish Cinema
BEFORE THE FALL: Q&A with F. Javier Gutiérrez
F. Javier Gutiérrez’s 3 Días / Before the Fall, the filmmaker’s feature-film debut (co-produced by Antonio Banderas), has an unlikely premise: as a giant meteorite is about to destroy the planet and all its denizens in three days — hence the original Spanish-language title — a young man (Victor Clavijo) living in a remote village in the south of Spain readies himself to protect his [...]
THE ORPHANAGE Is a Spanish Box-Office Hit
As per John Hopewell in Variety, Juan Antonio Bayona’s psychological thriller The Orphanage has grossed €5.8 million at the Spanish box office during its first few days of release. That is supposedly the second best opening ever — after Santiago Segura’s Torrente 3 — for a Spanish film. (I’m assuming inflation hasn’t been factored in.) The Orphanage, which was much talked about at this year’s [...]
Pedro Almodóvar Is the Best-Known Spanish Film Director
Via Zinema: According to a poll organized by SigmaDos, Pedro Almodóvar is the best known Spanish film director among Spanish citizens. Almodóvar was identified by 69 per cent of Spaniards. He is followed by: Academy Award winner and multiple Goya winner (for The Sea Inside) Alejandro Amenábar (34.3%); Academy Award nominee (for The Grandfather) José Luis Garci (13.4); Academy Award winner (for Belle Epoque) Fernando [...]
Pedro Almodóvar Becomes a Commander of the Italian Republic
This past Thursday, June 14, one of the world’s top directors of the last 25 years, Pedro Almodóvar, was presented with the title of Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, one of Italy’s highest civilian honors. The Spanish director received the Commendation for his "contributions to European cinema and culture" from Italy’s minister of culture Francesco Rutelli. The ceremony was held [...]