Category Archives: Spain

Love under an ash-cloud – “Cenizas del Cielo” [2008 Spain]

Using his intimate knowledge of the Asturias region, Spanish director José Antonio Quirós creates crowd-pleasing drama and romance through the film, “Cenizas del Cielo” [Eng. Title: Ashes from the Sun]. Storyline: Travel writer Paul Ferguson’s (Gary Piquer) progress through northern … Continue reading

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Jealousy and Consequence explained in “Celos” [1999 Spain]

Vicente Aranda has never been known to mince words, at least as far as his films were concerned – he relishes exposing dirt from under the carpet, and his drama “Celos” [Eng. Title: Jealousy] is no different – Spanish jealousy … Continue reading

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Female Fisticuffs, Ram-raids, and Nudity in “A Golpes” [2005 Spain]

I haven’t seen other films by Juan Vicente Córdoba, but if any of them were in the same league as his 2005 drama, “A Golpes” [Eng. Title: By Force], I wouldn’t be surprised. This is about suburban gangs – male … Continue reading

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Seven fine directors, and “Seven Days of Havana” [2012 Spain, France]

“7 Días en La Habana” [Eng. Title: 7 Days in Havana] was one of my most anticipated films of the year, primarily because it contains segments from two of my favourite directors, Julio Medem and Gaspar Noé. And even though … Continue reading

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Almodóvar at his twisted best in “Laberinto de Pasiones” [1982 Spain]

For those who may not know, early films by Pedro Almodóvar were pretty much underground affairs – he was part of Spain’s counter-culture, and also fronted a music band. The 1982 drama, “Laberinto de Pasiones” [Eng. Title: Labyrinth of Passion] … Continue reading

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