Cinema IV

(see December 2005)

Argentine

Iluminados por el Fuego
Director: Tristán Beaur.
Story set in the present day in which a 40 year old veteran of the Falklands War remains haunted by his experiences as an eighteen year old conscript fighting in the trenches. Fantastic film.

Los Diarios de Motocicleta (The motorcycle diaries)
Director: Walter Salles
Starring: Gael Garcia
In 1952 a young medicine student named Ernesto Guevara Lynch heads out on a crucial journey across South America on a tempramental Norton 500 motobike. Filmed in Argentina, Chile and Peru. Great Movie.


Historias Minimas (Minimal Stories)
Director: Carlos Sorín
Three different people from various isolated parts of the Argentine Patagonia embark on three distinct journeys. Recommended to anyone with a curiousity for Argentina.


El Mundo Grua
Director: Pablo Trapero
Excellent movie shot in Black and white. This is the first film by Trapero and in it he uses non professional actors for the principle roles. It is the story of a 50 year old unemployed man who has the opportunity to secure work as a crane operator. Easy to enjoy.

España

Volver (Return)
Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Penelope Cruz, Carmen Maure, Blanca Portillo, Lola Dueñas.
Although it only came out this year "Volver" was my very first Almodovar movie. Indeed the perfect introduction to Spains most successful director. Volver as with all of the directors movies has an almost completely female casting and as usual deals with the subject matter of Motherhood and the female struggle. Excellent Soundtrack.

Todo sobre mi madre (All about my Mother)
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Celia Roth, Penelope Cruz, Carmen Maure, Toni Cantó.
Certainly ranks abroad as one of the most popular Spanish movies. Typically wacky plot involving transvestites, nuns, drag queens and accidental preganancies. Perfectly explains the iconic status bestowed on Almodovar by one half and the complete disdain by which he is seen by the other.