Category Archives: Spain

A load of bull: “El árbol de la sangre” [2018 Spain]

And they end up being as attention-gathering as only a Julio Medem can manage (apart from Bigas Luna, of course). While the bulls and cows in his latest drama, “El árbol de la sangre” [Eng. Title: The Tree of Blood] might bear … Continue reading

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A brief review: “Cambio de Sexo” [1977 Spain]

One of Vicente Aranda’s lesser known (and until recently, quite rare) films, “Cambio de sexo” [Eng. Title: Forbidden Love] was also the beginning of a collaboration with his life-long muse Victoria Abril. The film, about a hitherto taboo topic concerning gender identity … Continue reading

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To reconcile: “Lejos del mar” [2015 Spain]

Imanol Uribe has frequently dealt with the subject of ETA and Basque nationalism in his films before – understandably so, since he also hails from the region. His latest thriller “Lejos del mar” [Eng. Title: Far from the Sea] too … Continue reading

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Playing the waiting game: “Tarde para la ira” [2016 Spain]

Seasoned actor Raúl Arévalo makes a surprisingly impressive directorial debut in the revenge thriller, “Tarde para la ira” [Eng. Title: The Fury of a Patient Man]. The film begins with Curro (the brilliant Luis Callejo) driving the getaway car following … Continue reading

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Highbrow destape: “La muchacha de las bragas de oro” [1980 Spain]

If Vicente Aranda’s groundbreaking exploration of sexual identity in “Cambio de sexo” made destape (a Spanish ‘Glasnost’ of sorts during and after Dictator Franco’s final years, when censorship was relaxed) purposeful, his next feature, “La muchacha de las bragas de … Continue reading

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