Category Archives: Spain

A short holiday: “Isla Bonita” [2015 Spain]

Veteran Spanish filmmaker Fernando Colomo not only writes and directs, but also plays one of the central characters in his latest romantic comedy, “Isla Bonita” [Eng. Title: Pretty Island].
The film is set in the island of Menorca, where sculptor Nuria … Continue reading

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A film review: “Palmeras en la nieve” [2015 Spain]

Fernando González Molina has made a commendable effort in recreating colonial Africa for his latest film, “Palmeras en la nieve” [Eng. Title: Palm trees in the Snow], a saga encompassing the final years of Spain’s tiny toehold in sub-Saharan … Continue reading

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Positivity can be infectious: “ma ma” [2015 Spain]

After Room in Rome. it has taken five years for the redoubtable Julio Medem to come up with a new full-length feature, and while it has a simple and more straightforward narrative when compared to his earlier works, “ma ma” … Continue reading

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Twilight nirvana: “Anochece en la India” [2014 Spain, Romania, India]

Acclaimed documentary film-maker Chema Rodríguez makes his foray into feature films with the quirky and meditative drama, “Anochece en la India” [Eng. Title: Nightfall in India].
Ricardo (Juan Diego) is an ageing paraplegic hippie suffering from a degenerative decease. His grumpy attitude, … Continue reading

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Spanish cinema, the way it used to be: “Stella cadente” [2014, Spain]

Among the things that first drew me to Spanish cinema was its unconventional, imaginative, and almost irreverent approach to film-narrative. Directors from Arrabal to Almodóvar, and Buñuel to Luna, especially during their ‘underground’ years, have extended frontiers so successfully … Continue reading

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