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Celebrating Spanish cinema – the Goyas!

Friday, February 19th, 2010

The Spanish Oscars – AKA the Goyas – have been given out – with a few suprises!  A great celebration of Spanish film, the event gains more and more coverage each year, with the stars now getting recognised beyond their home country, even in the dizzy heights of Hollywood!  Also, importantly, many international stars are recognising the importance of the event and choosing to attend too – some even being nominated and going on to win prizes!  Although Rachel Weisz didn’t take the Best Actress prize home for her work in “Agora” (the new Alejandro Amenábar film), losing out to Lola Dueñas for “Yo, también”, to be nominated is certainly  great honour for the stunning actress.

Being directed in Agora

In fact her work in Agora did come under the spotlight in several other catagories.  The film was nominated for Best Direction, best screenplay (which it won!), best music, best photography (another one won!), Best Artistic Direction (again, a winner!)…and several more!

Other big winners on the night were “Celda 211″ and “Yo, también”.  Celda 211 in fact won Best Film – a highly prestigious award….And along with it, Best Director (Daniel Monzón) and Best Actor (Luis Tosar).  “Yo, también”‘s Lola Dueñas won the Best Actress award (a difficult feat given she was up against Madrid’s favourite Penelope Cruz!) and the film also feature the best song (“Yo, también).

What won the best entire soundtrack however was “Los Abrazos Rotos”, Pedro Almodovar’s hit film.  The ever-controversial director, whose muse is Penelope Cruz, wasn’t a big winner on the night.  Although bad news for him, it was perhaps good news for the Spanish film industry, that there are more people coming through and that the market isn’t entirely dominated by the director’s films.

Spanish film is gaining so much more importance throughout the world – in recent months we’ve seen Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona, starring Penelope Crus and Javier Bardem, hit the big time, Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise filming in Seville and “Vantage Point”‘s premiere come to Salamanca, the city in which the film was based.

Filming in Cadiz

There are also Spanish stars going abroad – Alejandro Amenábar making English speaking films (The Others, Ágora…), Penelope Cruz starring in many hit films including the star-studded “Nine” and Paz Vega also hitting the big time in Hollywood.

Be sure, if you are studying in Spanish school Mester, to enjoy their film nights as party of the activity programme.  They’re free and a great way to boost your Spanish and learn about Spanish culture!

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Another Spanish Oscar!

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Spain’s top director, Alejandro Amenábar, has doen it again – he’s directed another top hit worthy of not just national recognition  but international recognition too.

A well deserved Oscar for Alejandro Amenábar

A well deserved Oscar for Alejandro Amenábar

Having the biggest budget ever for a Spanish film, over 50 million Euros, it’s another possible Oscar for Amenábar.  A great way to learn Spanish, watching film in Castillian is a fun way to practise what you learn in the class room! Always remember that you can watch Spanish films at Mester – we have a film library and often put showings as part of the activity programme for students to boost their Spanish and give

Agora tells the tale of Hipatia, a philosopher, astrologer and mathematician from the beginning of the 5th century  who was finally lynched for having alternative thoughts to the church.  As well as this controversy, there is also the aspect of feminism which is dealt with by Amenábar.  Hipatia was a unique woman and thikner for her time, something which ultimately cost her her life.

If you are interested in Spanish film, another film you may enjoy is Limits of Control.  By Jim Jarmusch, it’s a mystery set through various cities and villages in Spain.  The nameless main character, known only as the Lone Man, has a mission which involves the several meetings he has throughout the film, all of which begin with the line “¿usted, no habla español verdad?” (you don’t speak Spanish, right?”).

A scene from Limits of Control

A scene from Limits of Control

Or if it’s Amenábar you really like, then see cult hit “Abre los Ojos” (the Spanish version of Vanilla Skies), or “Mar Adentro”, another controversional film dealing with the theme of euthenasia.  What’s next for the director we don’t know – whether it’s Hollywood now the Oscar has called or more personal touch, unique film making, either way, we can’t wait!

Agora's poster - enticing, no?

Agora's poster - enticing, no?

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Salamanca Celebrates Spanish Short Film

Monday, September 21st, 2009

From Monday 21st September 2009, Salamanca’s Liceo Theatre will be preparing for a week long festival of short films, an event which goes from strength to strength with it now having reached its tenth year.

Organised by Salamanca Capital of Culture Foundation, the festival has been gaining success year in, year out – and continues to get better!  This year its spectators can look forward to an interesting and diverse anthology of productions considered to be most representative of today’s era.  The sample of shows are not planned to be competitive – the idea is to increase awareness of this growing medium of art, to encourage people who have perhaps never seen short films before to get out to the theatre and enjoy an industry which is really coming into its own and of course to provide those who already love short films with the best of the best.

Madrid Moscú from Chinatown on Vimeo.

Those who have done their research will particularly be looking forward to the film featured above, Madrid Moscú.  It’s a twist on the typical boy-meets girl story, the tale’s heroin being a prostitute and the knight in shining armour being a lorry driver.  Directed by Javier San Román, a director who has a great catalogue of short films including the Goya-nominated “Proverbio Chino”, spectators are sure to be entertained by his latest offering.

The festival’s line up also will also include, as is custom, a fixed space for the short films which were given prizes at the most recent edition of the Semana de Cine de Medina del Campo, an event with which the Filomteca of Castilla y Leon – who are backing the short film festival – holds a valuable collaborative relationship.

Another aim of the festival is to raise awareness of specific genres which are gaining relevance in today’s society – documentary film or the advanced technological world of animation for example.  Space will also be made for the productions which have received the most prizes in various competitions – quality is guaranteed!

Whilst highlights include “Prométeme Que Va a Volver”, by Eduardo Soler and Enrique Gandarillas -

PROMETAME QUE VA A VOLVER (PROMISE ME YOU´LL COME BACK)

an expressive film dealing with the emotions experienced by the mother of a young Columbian marine who travels to Iraq; and “Cabaret Kadne”, a dark animation picture by Marc Riba and Anna Solanas, two of the most respected film makers in their field, the most talked about film is “El Talento de Las Moscas” (The Talent of the Flies) – a production which has been awarded the “Best Short-Film”.  Set in the summer of 1944, during the war, it tells the story of Antoine de St Exupéry.  It’s a romantic tale which all begins when Antoine parachutes into the garden of a beautiful woman and is sure to appeal to every spectator.

The celebration will be running from Monday 21st September to Thursday 24th September inclusive, from 20:15 each night, with entrance priced at 1,20 Euro.  Every night there will be a selection of approximately 6 films, and so why not make your way to the Liceo to enjoy a night of the most cutting edge film of the short industry and help your Spanish learning?

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Learn Spanish from the comfort of your home!

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Now the summer’s coming to a close and the nights are drawing in, without much enthusiasm for leaving the comfort of your sofa and central heating, you may find yourself wondering how to best take advantage of your time.  Well, why not consolidate your language learning by exploring the world of foreign film?

Though Hollywood blockbusters are always tempting to rent – how can you fail to react to the million dollar publicity campaigns they have? – why not, next time you’re looking for a film to watch, consider a Spanish film?

The Spanish film industry is hotter than ever now, with Oscars going to stunning actress Penelope Cruz and critically acclaimed director Pedro Almodóvar and films such as “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” being set in Spanish cities.  Most films come with sub-titles and so if your Spanish is not yet fluent, you can still enjoy the film whilst benefiting from the fact you are hearing around 2 hours of spoken Spanish.  And surely enjoying a good story is more interesting than reading a grammar book!  Another great advantage of watching Spanish films is that you hear the real Spanish – that is, the Spanish that is spoken today, by Spanish people.

Furthermore, by watching these films you will get a fantastic insight into Spanish culture – its music, customs, ways of life…and all from the comfort of your sofa!

Spanish cinema really does have a lot to offer – the industry is breaking the mould of the all-too-sweet cookie cutter films which are bombarding our cinemas nowadays.  Even Hollywood has turned to Spain for inspiration – did you know that “Vanilla Skies” is a re-make of the Spanish “Abre los Ojos” or that “The Others”, with Nicole Kidman, has a Spanish director?

The films are original stories, often controversial and always interesting and worthwhile.

Why not take a trip to your video store today…or to the cinema, if your are lucky enough to already be in Spain?

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