The Spirit of the Beehive / El espiritu de la colmena
Spain ,
1973.
Directed by: Victor Erice Script: Víctor Erice, Ángel Fernández Santos, Francisco J. Querejeta Producer: Elías Querejeta Production company: Elías Querejeta Producciones Cinematográficas S.L. Cinematography: Pablo G. del Amo Editing: Luís Cuadrado Music: Luís de Pablo Cast: Fernando Fernán Gómez, Teresa Gimpera, Ana Torrent, Isabel Tellería
Format: 35mm Running time: 97'
Synopsis A lonely little village girl who sees Boris Karloff's 'Frankenstein,' becomes entranced by the monster. The girl's sister convinces her the monster is still alive and she treks off into the countryside to find him. Directorial debut of Victor Erice is considered a masterpiece of Spanish cinema. Made during the last few years of Francisco Franco's dictatorship, and set in 1940, the film subtly criticizes post-civil war Spain. It is, however, far more memorable for its sympathetic portrayal of a young child's world, and for Ana Torrent's presence. Film is considered visually brilliant despite the fact that the cinematographer, Luis Cuadrado, was going blind during filming.
Awards San Sebastián International Film Festival 1973 Golden Seashell
Cinema Writers Circle Awards 1974 Best Actor, Best Director, Best Film
Fotogramas de Plata 1974 Best Spanish Movie Performer
Premios ACE 1977 Best Actress, Best Director
Directors Biography Víctor Erice is born 30 June 1940, Spain. He studied law, political science, and economics at the University of Madrid also attended the Escuela Oficial de Cinematografia in 1963 to study film direction. He wrote film criticism and reviews for the Spanish film journal Nuestro Cine, and made a series of short films before making his first feature film, 'The Spirit of the Beehive' (1973).Ten years later, Erice wrote and directed 'The South' (1982), considered a masterpiece. 'The Quince Tree Sun' (1992) is a documentary about painter Antonio López García. The film won the Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.
Location and screening schedule: BUG cinema &TD, Thursday, October 22nd at 21.00
