{"id":1827,"date":"2013-12-31T16:19:56","date_gmt":"2013-12-31T16:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/?p=1827"},"modified":"2014-01-02T15:03:53","modified_gmt":"2014-01-02T15:03:53","slug":"7-films-that-prove-spanish-hollywood-is-alive-and-kicking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/7-films-that-prove-spanish-hollywood-is-alive-and-kicking\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Films That Prove Spanish Hollywood Is Alive And Kicking"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Spanishfilms\"<\/a>Spain is a complex country of religious and social diversity, passionate people, a long, historic political struggle, a varied and rich culture, and it has seen its fair share of horrors too \u2013 all of which are beautifully represented in many of the great Spanish films.<\/p>\n

Along with most of its Latin counterparts, Spanish language films have become the sweethearts of awards ceremonies, film festivals, and the film buffs DVD collection, and many of its stars have made the leap into the American mainstream market. So with so many to choose from, which are the ones not to miss?<\/p>\n

Eighteen Spanish films have been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film Academy Awards, with four must-sees taking out the highly respected category \u2013 the first being Jos\u00e9 Luis Garci\u2019s Begin The Beguine<\/i> in 1982; Fernando Trueba\u2019s Belle \u00c9poque<\/i> in 1993; Pedro Almod\u00f3var\u2019s All About My Mother<\/i>\u00a0 in 1999; and Alejandro Amen\u00e1bar\u2019s The Sea Inside<\/i> in 2004.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are many Spanish actors who have broken into the American market, with both Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz being highly successful and both being nominated for three Academy Awards and winning one each \u2013 for No Country For Old Men<\/i> and Vicky Cristina Barcelona<\/i> respectively.<\/p>\n

1. Begin Beguine<\/b><\/p>\n

Based in the 1980\u2019s but with a background from the 1930\u2019s Civil War, Begin Beguine<\/i> sees a noble prize winning writer return home to Spain after 40 years, and the trials and tribulations that follow.<\/p>\n

2. Belle \u00c9poque<\/b><\/p>\n

Set in war torn, politically divided 1930\u2019s Spain, this film about a young soldier wooing a household of sisters is funny, insightful, charming, and warm \u2013 and was a launching pad for a young Penelope Cruz.<\/p>\n

3. All About My Mother<\/b><\/p>\n

Almodovar is the king of the Spanish film industry, and is treated like royalty in his home country, and increasingly, abroad \u2013 and it was this film that sealed his status.<\/p>\n

The film follows a mother who has lost her son in an accident, as she searches for his father, and all the characters she meets on her journey of discovery. Cruz appears again, but this one is all about formerly exiled Argentinian actress, Celia Roth \u2013 one of Almodovar\u2019s muses.<\/p>\n

4. The Sea Inside<\/b><\/p>\n

Amen\u00e1bar\u2019s Oscar winning biopic about Ramon Sampedo is the remarkable true story about a Spaniard who fought to end his life for 30 years following a diving accident that left him a quadriplegic.<\/p>\n

The film was controversial for its pro-euthanasia theme, but was critically acclaimed, commercially successful, and actor Bardem\u2019s Hollywood career was set on a trajectory path for stardom.<\/p>\n

5. Talk To Her<\/b><\/p>\n

Almodovar again, this 2002 film was highly acclaimed, and was ranked in the Time magazine 100 greatest films ever.<\/p>\n

The story looks at the parallel lives of two men affected by two women in comas \u2013 one a suicidal female bullfighter and the other a professional dancer. This film was a break away from Almodovar\u2019s usual women focussed storyline, with the male leads taking on that role.<\/p>\n

6. Don\u2019t Be Afraid<\/b><\/p>\n

Director Montxo Armendariz\u2019s film about sexual abuse is a harrowing, yet sensitive portrayal of struggle and recovery, as a young woman copes with the impact her relationship with her father has had on her life.<\/p>\n

7. Open Your Eyes<\/b><\/p>\n

Amen\u00e1bar\u2019s film is a movie buff\u2019s dream come true, with complex plot lines, drama in spades, visually beautiful, and starring actors of the highest calibre: Eduardo Noriega and Penelope Cruz \u2013 it\u2019s not surprising Hollywood snapped up the rights to the film, and tried to make their own disappointing version of it (Tom Cruise\u2019s Vanilla Sky<\/i>).<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll be an honorary Spaniard if you watch all of Almod\u00f3var and Amen\u00e1bar\u2019s films, and if you\u2019ve got a grasp on the Spanish language<\/a> already, this experience will give you a full grip. But if you don\u2019t, it\u2019s easy to learn, just ask the billions that have already!<\/p>\n

Of course, this is just a wee sample of Spain\u2019s rich film heritage, and there are hundreds of brilliant Spanish speaking films too, so tune in next week when we have a look at what their Latin American cousins have to show.<\/p>\n

\"spanishkidsfood2\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spain is a complex country of religious and social diversity, passionate people, a long, historic political struggle, a varied and rich culture, and it has seen its fair share of horrors too \u2013 all of which are beautifully represented in many of the great Spanish films. Along with most of its Latin counterparts, Spanish language(\u2026)<\/p>\n

\n
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