Still More Spanish Films: Forgotten Non-Fiction Cinema

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Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Saturday, 03 December 2011 05:00

Written by L E Shannon

The film series Forgotten Spanish Non-Fiction Cinema and Its Renewal is screening December 8 - 14, 2011 at Anthology Film Archives in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City.

Some 40 years of Spanish cinema is covered in nine programs, focusing on films by generation as well as "the abyss that exists because of the political history" of Spain.

This series is presented with the generous support of the Cultural Department of the Consulate General of Spain, and is co-presented by the Robert Flaherty Film Seminar and UnionDocs.

Past as well as present filmmakers are featured, including Luis Buñuel and José Val del Omar.

The Opening Night program is This Is (Also) Spain!, a series of short films reflecting "the unknown side of Spain that the dictatorship's propaganda sought to hide in order to promote tourism".... "A national wound that still festers." The selections include:

• Land Without Bread / Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan, dir. Luis Buñuel (1932)
• Aguaespejo Granadino, dir. José Val del Omar (1955)
• Me Duele El Chocho, dir. Valeriano López (2002)
• If The Camera Blows Up, dir. Óscar Pérez (2008)
• Val Del Omar Fuera De Sus Casillas, dir. Velasco Broca (2010)

Some of the other films in the series are:

La Leyenda del Tiempo
dir. Isaki Lacuesta  (2006)
A documentary about the flamenco, with the director present for a Q&A.

Work in Progress / En Construcción
dir. José Luis Guerín (2001)
This documentary follows the construction -- more like "reconstruction" -- of a working class neighborhood in Barcelona where, as here, longtime residents are displaced by the demands of gentrification. The director will be present.

Vampir Cuadecuc
dir. Pere Portabella (1971)
A behind-the-scenes look at Jesús Franco’s horror movie, including footage used in the commercial feature.

Correspondence
dir. Jonas Mekas, José Luis Guerín (2011)
Generations of filmmaking are bridged between an iconic veteran filmmaker and a newer talent of the digital age as they exchange videos.

It's a busy time to devote a whole week to filmgoing, but catching at least one program would be well worth the time. Who knows when these films will be available again?

For more information, go to anthologyfilmarchives.org/film_screenings/programs.

Forgotten Spanish Non-fiction Cinema and Its Renewal
December 8 - 14, 2011

Anthology Film Archives
32 Second Avenue
New York City
212-505-5181

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