Presented in collaboration with the Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA) of the Spanish Ministry of Culture, EGEDEA and the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade, ICEX and Consulate General of Spain in Los Angeles.

This year Spanish Cinema received the international recognition it deserves with the popular success of Guillermo del Toro’s PAN’S LABYRINTH and Pedro Almodovar’s VOLVER. But there are even more Spanish films out there to amaze you! Join us for the most exciting showcase of new Spanish films in town, including the revelation of this year, winner of the Goya for best new director and new actor, Daniel Sanchez Arevalo’s astonishing drama DARKBLUEALMOSTBLACK; Agustin Diaz Yanes’s 17th century portrait of a reflective mercenary ALATRISTE starring Viggo Mortensen; CROSSING THE BORDER the beautiful directorial debut of TV actor Carlos Iglesias, Antonio Chavarrías’ neo noir CELIA’S LIVES. Not to forget that from the established filmmakers side, Fernando Colomo delivers one of his most delightful comedies with THE NEAR EAST; David Trueba returns with a wistful portrait of youth in Madrid with WELCOME HOME, and do not miss MY NAME IS JUANI, the latest from Bigas Luna. This selection of films offers performances from Spain’s favorites actors: Victoria Abril, Ariadna Gil, Pilar Lopez de Ayala, Javier Camara, Carlos Iglesias, Luis Tosar, Juan Echanove; plus newcomers Quim Gutiérrez and Javier Cifrian. Not to forget the presence of international figures such as Viggo Mortensen and Daniel Brühl.

Featuring a Retrospective Tribute to director Vicente Aranda

“Leave your inhibitions at the door” might be a good introduction to the erotic, subversive and savage cinema of director Vicente Aranda – a world where sexual identity can be slipped into like a new skin (CHANGE OF SEX, BILINGUAL LOVER); where women fight (and love) harder than men (LIBERTARIAS, FANNY “PELOPAJA”); where almost anything goes except forgiveness. Like Buñuel and his fellow-Catalan Bigas Luna, Aranda delights in the surreal and sacrilegious: a fashion model who takes on the apocalypse; a militant, libertarian nun. But anarchy, in Aranda’s eyes, comes with a stiff price – hearts are shattered, lives are ruined. A native of Barcelona, Aranda had no formal training in film when he “reinvented” himself as a director at the age of 38 with his first feature, aptly titles BRILLIANT FUTURE. He emerged as one of the central figures in the controversial New Spanish Cinema of the 1970’s, along with Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón, Carlos Saura, Bigas Luna and others. In 1976, he cast an unknown actress and game-show hostess named Victoria Abril as the transsexual heroine of CHANGE OF SEX, creating an overnight icon of Spanish Cinema; since then, he’s made many more features with Abril, including his latest film, the sumptuous medieval tale THE MAIDEN’S CONSPIRACY.

We are thrilled to welcome at the Egyptian Theatre director Vicente Aranda and other guests to be confirmed. (Please checks website for updates).

Thursday, March 15 – 7:30 PM

Discussion afterwards with director Vicente Aranda, actresses Esther Nubiola and Ingrid Rubio.

THE MAIDENS’ CONSPIRACY (TIRANTE EL BLANCO), 2006, 120 min. The Byzantine emperor asks the legendary brave knight Tirant for his help against the Turks. Thanks to his courage and military prowess, the Turks are defeated. But Tirant’s strength is not enough against the intrigues swirling about the Imperial Court. Director Vicente Aranda’s latest film is the sweeping adaptation of the famous novel, Tirant Lo Blanc. A major co-production staring Leonor Watling, Victoria Abril, Giancarlo Giannini, Ingrid Rubio, and as Tirant and Carmesina, newcomers Caspar Zafer and Esther Nubiola.

Saturday, March 17 – 7:30 PM

Discussion in between the films with actors Unax Ugalde and Viggo Mortensen (ALATRISTE) and actress Ingrid Rubio (SALVADOR)

ALATRISTE, 2006, 135 min. Dir. Agustin Diaz Yanes. Viggo Mortensen (THE LORD OF THE RINGS, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE) stars as the brooding, irresistible Captain Alatriste, 17th century soldier, mercenary and lover, in this superb adaptation of the historical novel by Arturo Perez-Reverte. The plot twists and turns like a dark river, covering 20 years from the wars in Flanders to France – and along the way Alatriste crosses paths with characters real and fictional including actress Maria de Castro (Ariadna Gil, PAN’S LABYRINTH), the Count-Duke of Olivares (Javier Camara), poet Francisco de Quevedo (Juan Echanove) and others. The mournful heart of the film remains Mortensen, though, who performs all of his dialogue in fluent Spanish (he lived in Venezuela and Argentina as a youth). Nominated for 14 Goya Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. 2007 Goya Winner of Best Script, Best Art Direction, Best Costume. SALVADOR, 2006, 134 min. Dir. Manuel Huerga. The film retraces the last twelve hours of Salvador Puig Antich (Daniel Brühl), the last political prisoner executed by garrote during the Franco regime, as he receives visits from family and friends. From a student protestor, Salvador becomes an active militant in the resistance movement, but gets caught and condemned to death after a series of bank robberies. A superb performance by German actor Daniel Brühl (GOOD BYE LENIN!). A haunting film.

Sunday, March 18 – 7:30 PM

Discussion in between films with actress Nieve de Medina (CROSSING THE BORDER)

CROSSING THE BORDER (UN FRANCO 14 PESETAS), 105 min. A powerful directorial debut by television actor Carlos Iglesias on a rarely depicted theme in Spanish Cinema: the migration to other European countries to find a job, the stark reality facing so many Spaniards in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Leaving their families behind, Martín (Carlos Iglesias) with his friend Marcos, tries his luck in Switzerland. Arriving in the picturesque Swiss village, they are confronted by the mysterious habits of the locals. As their families joins them, they again have to assimilate. A touching and powerful film.
NOT ON DVD.
THE NEAR EAST (EL PROXIMO ORIENTE), 2006, 95 min. In the best example yet of his style, director Fernando Colomo returns with a genuine and lovely social comedy about Islam and multiculturalism. Good hearted butcher Cain (Javier Cifrian) takes responsibility for his brother Abel’s born out of wedlock child by marrying pregnant Aisha, the daughter of Bangladeshi restaurant owners Shakir and Samaah. “The busy script leaps with agility from one such screwball situation to the next, fluid editing keeps up the momentum.” Jonathan Holland, Variety NOT ON DVD.

For the complete Recent Spanish Cinema Schedule click here