Aurora Bautista

Christopher Colombus

Queen Isabella

Vittorio Cottafavi's four part series on the life of Christopher Colombus

Merry-Go-Round c. 1950

Doña Anunciada

This movie doesn't have any coherent plot. It's the portrait of the lives of different people in the hard years of post-war in Spain (the 40's), and how they manage to survive in a country desolated by the war. Like other films: La colmena or Roma (Fellini) it shows us lots of characters and some moments of their lives.

Degueyo

Woman of Danger City

Ramon and his bandit gang launch an attack on Danger City, searching for rumoured hidden treasure and unable to find the loot either kill or take as hostage all the men, leaving only the women and children to produce the treasure or face 'Deguello' - an attack with no quarter. Four men arrive in town searching for Ramon and agree to help protect the town from the bandits.

Dawn Breaks, Which Is No Small Thing

La Padington

Teodoro, a Spanish engineer working as a professor in the United States, returns to Spain to enjoy a sabbatical year.

Locura de amor

Doña Juana de Castilla

The passion that Joan of Castile, daughter of the Catholic Kings and heir to the throne, feels for her husband, Philip the Handsome, sovereign of the Netherlands and son of Maximilian of Austria and Mary of Burgundy, is not reciprocated. Her temperament, her jealousy and an unexpected tragedy will throw Joan into the dark realm of madness and obsession with death, the only realm where she will be a true queen…

The Voyeur

Olga

Despite being unhappy about it, a middle-aged man, allows his wife to carry on affairs in order to keep his marriage together.

Beyond the Walls

La Priora

This 1985 Spanish film reveals one of the many terrible aspects of 16th century Spain, still plagued by the radical Christian Inquisition, one of a plethora of difficulties Spaniards faced at the time. Spanish super star Carmen Maura plays a nun who agrees to a selfless scam, a fake stigmata, only to avoid separation from her lover, another nun. It's a serious and passionate work, highlighting the theme of outspoken women-against-repression, seen in other good gay and lesbian films. This is not a lesbian "Nun sense" or another "Dark Habits" (by Almodovar, which also starred Carmen Maura, and also set in a Spanish convent, with some lesbian nuns). Perhaps, best of all, 'Extramuros' is realistic and frank. It isn't shy about its characters' sexuality. Their sexuality, and the film as a whole are genuine.

Hermana, ¿pero qué has hecho?

Madre Superiora

Sister Angela and Sister Mary park his van in front of a bank branch. They enter the bank and with the weapons hidden under their habits, commit the robbery of the century, to the astonishment of all employees and customers. After thorough police investigation the two nuns are arrested, but then appears Trini, twin sister of one of them and now all is not so clear. Were the nuns who committed the robbery?

One by One

Dolly's Maid

Bill learns that his father, during the American Civil War, was accused of theft and killed. Convinced of his innocence, Bill discovers the true robbers.

Aunt Tula

Tula

A widower finds himself falling for his sister-in-law.

Manuela

Purita niña

In Seville during the 1970s, Manuela, a furtive hunter’s daughter, marries the servant of rich Don Ramón, who is in love with her. With her natural beauty and sensuality, she attracts all sorts of passions, along with the conflicts that derive from them.

Divine Words

Marica del Reino

A work of Valle-Inclán, the story takes place in Galicia in the early twentieth century. To escape poverty, the wife of a sacristan uses a hydrocephalic child as a sideshow attraction. This causes a confrontation with her sister-in-law.

The Rats

Returning from Switzerland, a young investigator meets María, his father's new wife. They immediately feel an irresistible attraction, which he tries to overcome by mixing it up with another woman.

Il marito

Elena

Alberto's marriage is a complete failure: his wife Elena is a hard woman influenced by her mother and sister who live with the married couple. Alberto is also experiencing financial problems and hopes for the help of a rich widow who is however interested in his sexual favours. Naturally Elena puts obstacles in his way and everything goes wrong. Alberto decides to change job then and becomes a sweets sales representative. Disillusioned with marital life he also changes his attitude towards women: he tells every woman he meets he is single.

Después de… Segunda parte: atado y bien atado

Self

A history of the Spanish Transition told in first person by the main protagonists: on the one hand, the politicians, idealistic or merely opportunistic, who brought it to a successful conclusion in the tribunes and offices; on the other hand, the citizens who, in the streets, supported it sincerely or fought it with ferocity.

La Gata

María 'La gata'

In a country house dedicated to breeding bulls, bound for bullfighting, a love story emerges, conditioned by social class differences.

Pequeñeces

Curra

Madrid in the 1870s. Amidst political intrigues against King Amadeo de Saboya, wealthy and strong-willed countess Curra de Albornoz makes her own way in spite of her son and husband, considering her indiscretions as merely trifles ("pequeñeces") until tragedy strikes her. Period drama with a luxurious production design.

Sonatas

Concha

In the fall of 1824 Javier Montenegro, Bradomin Marquis is spared death hanging by Captain Casares, and in return, the Marquis agrees to help him escape to America. Adaptation of "Sonata de Otoño" and "Sonata de Estío" of Ramón María del Valle-Inclan, which included elements Bardem later works of the author.

The Passengers

Veronica

No description available

Barefoot in the Kitchen

(archive footage)

What was the role of women in Spanish cinema from the 1930s to the present explained through fragments of different films, both fiction and non-fiction. (Followed by “Manda huevos,” 2016.)