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Spanish language film recommendations, pleas

dessiato

🇪🇸 my spirit is crying for leaving
I’m, as you know, in Spain. I watch a lot of films and TV. Sadly, the majority of specifically Spanish language films are either old, or not very good.

I love Nouvelle Vague films, and wondered what you might recommend in this vein. But Spanish of course. I’ve got a few, but want more, new, films to watch.
 
Recentish films:

Embrace of the Serpent/Birds of Passage/ Monos (Colombian)
Marshland (Spanish)
The Clan/Wild Tales (Argentinian)
Roma (Mexican)
A Fantastic Woman/Gloria/No/The Club/Neruda (Chilean)
La Llorona (Guatemalan)
Che (both parts) (Soderberg version)
Azor (set in Argentina, mix of Spanish and French language)

Some more that I'll add if I've time later. I reckon recently there have been more interesting Spanish language films from Latin America than Spain though.

Eta Haven't included Almodovar or Guilermo del Toro etc as assume they're already on your radar. Likewise stuff like The Motorcycle Diaries, Y tu Mama Tambien, Amores Perros etc.
 
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Y tu mamá también & Roma by Alfonso Cuarón

Cría Cuervos by Carlos Saura

Spirit of the Beehive by Víctor Enrice

The Devil's Backbone by Guillermo del Toro
Sleep Tight by Jaume Balagueró
Night of the Sunflowers by Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo

The Secret in Their Eyes by Juan José Campanella
Viridiana & The Exterminating Angel by Luis Buñuel

Too many by Pedro Almodóvar to mention

(I copied titles and names to get the spelling right, seems impossible to do here, that's why it looks fucked)
 

Y tu mamá también & Roma by Alfonso Cuarón

Cría Cuervos by Carlos Saura

Spirit of the Beehive by Víctor Enrice

The Devil's Backbone by Guillermo del Toro
Sleep Tight by Jaume Balagueró
Night of the Sunflowers by Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo

The Secret in Their Eyes by Juan José Campanella
Viridiana & The Exterminating Angel by Luis Buñuel

Too many by Pedro Almodóvar to mention

(I copied titles and names to get the spelling right, seems impossible to do here, that's why it looks fucked)
Ah I forgot Cria Cuervos and Voice of the Beehive both of which i loved :).
 

Y tu mamá también & Roma by Alfonso Cuarón

Cría Cuervos by Carlos Saura

Spirit of the Beehive by Víctor Enrice

The Devil's Backbone by Guillermo del Toro
Sleep Tight by Jaume Balagueró
Night of the Sunflowers by Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo

The Secret in Their Eyes by Juan José Campanella
Viridiana & The Exterminating Angel by Luis Buñuel

Too many by Pedro Almodóvar to mention

(I copied titles and names to get the spelling right, seems impossible to do here, that's why it looks fucked)
Loved The Secret In Their Eyes
 
If you are looking for something a bit crazier
  • Wild Tales
  • The Last Circus Ballard and Álex de la Iglesia's other films
  • Bigas Luna's work
 
Spirit of the Beehive by Víctor Enrice

An absolute masterpiece. One of the most beautiful, poetic movies in cinema history, absolutely wondrous, and you've never seen it, do yourself a favour and watch it. Erice's second film El Sur (The South) is equally astounding. I think he's only ever made 3 full lengths in his career (and a few shorts). But if we're judging quality v quantity, then this shy. unassuming filmmaker is up there with the greatest directors.









People have already mentioned Bunuel, of course. And any Pedro Almodovar movie is always essential viewing.
 

Pere Portabella.

worked under the Francoist regime to produce slyly subversive takes on the Franco regime.

Vampir is worth seeing alone for Christopher Lee. Who was making a film at that time in Spain.

Pere Portabella later made doc on the transition to democracy.

If you want to know about Spain Franco and the transition to democracy he is must see film maker

 

Pere Portabella.

worked under the Francoist regime to produce slyly subversive takes on the Franco regime.

Vampir is worth seeing alone for Christopher Lee. Who was making a film at that time in Spain.

Pere Portabella later made doc on the transition to democracy.

If you want to know about Spain Franco and the transition to democracy he is must see film maker

That sounds very interesting. I’m studying for my citizenship so something like this might help me get a handle on things during that period.
 
That sounds very interesting. I’m studying for my citizenship so something like this might help me get a handle on things during that period.

This I would recommend.


Made whilst banned exiled politicians were in Spain negotiating the transition to democracy. Which wasn't certain.

Let's them talk themselves rather than ask questions. Everyone from Monarchists , Socialists, Communists and Trots. Fascinating wide ranging discussion of what democracy is or could be. Some become leading politicians in the new Spain.

Fly on the wall documentary with some background to the Franco period. And history of Franco period.

Way I understood it that some Franco "reformers" wanted Francoism without Franco. A limited democracy.

Be interested in what you study for the citizenship as the Civil War period is still a subject that is contentious. The Pact of Forgetting is still in place.
 
This I would recommend.


...
Be interested in what you study for the citizenship as the Civil War period is still a subject that is contentious. The Pact of Forgetting is still in place.
To apply for citizenship is easier than it sounds.

First is you must have lived here, continuously, for ten years. Depending on your nationality, some have a shorter time. Also depends on how you live in Spain, are you a dependent or spouse for example.

You must also have a minimum of A2 spanish, supported by a recognised exam. Usually the DELE 2 exam is sufficient. This is reading, writing, a listening and speaking exam. Total time is about 3 hours IIRC

Then there's the citizenship test. This, for me, is the hardest part. There's a standard list of questions, I think it's about two or three hundred, from this a random selection of questions are chosen and answered. These include history, constitution, etc. You must pass this.

After passing these three requirements you wait. Some have waited five years. You must also prove you are integrated into Spanish life.

It's not especially difficult, but it's, for me, essential I get it all right. I want to become Spanish. It means renouncing my British citizenship, (Spain doesn't allow dual nationality) which I'll be sorry about. The UK does.

I hope to get the exams done next year.
 
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