Chris Cashion

European Cinema

Minutes 4/4/05

          Class began today by Dr. Reimer making a few announcements concerning due dates for final paper presentations, as well as final dates for movies presentations.  Films are due by April 27^th.  Also, we will be very strict on time for the paper presentations, so the time that you are scheduled to present, will be the only time you have to present.

Spanish Cinema

o       Three Major Spanish Directors

o       Give good indication of:

1.)    Themes of Spanish Film

2.)    Style of Spanish Film

Luis Bunuel (1900-1983)

Carlos Saura (1932-        )

Pedro Almadovar (1949-        )

·        National Cinema not strong

·        1939-1975 censored by Franco regime

·        1949-1951 brief period of neo-realism and freedom of expression

·        Luis Bunuel made most films outside of Spain

·        1975 enters world stage after Franco’s death

Bunuel

Un Chien Andalou (w/ Salvador Dali) 1929

-         surreal

-         dreamlike

-         sets tone of future films

Los Olvidados 1950

-         homeless youth

-         neo-realism and yet at times dream like

Veridiana

-         made in Spain yet also

-         banned in Spain because of objections to film by Church.

El Angel exterminador 1966

-         existential

-         surreal

-         social and political criticism

Le Charme discret de la Bourgeoisie 1972

-         French production

-         Blurs dream and reality

-         Social and political criticism

-         Interruption of pleasure

Saura

El Jardin de las delicias 1970

-         satire of wealthy

-         deals with issues of memory and identity

Carmen 1983

-         part of trilogy

-         explores boundaries between dream and reality

-         flamenco dance film

Goya 1999

-         biography of painter

-         uses Brechtian distancing

Almodovar

Dark Habits 1983

-         about heroin addicted nun

-         outrageous comedy

Mujeresal borde de un ataque de nervous 1988

-         breakthrough film

-         feminist theme

Atame! 1990

-         starring Antonio Bandaras

-         controversial because of question of abuse of women

La Mala educacion 2004

-         child abuse by clergy

§         Spanish Trademarks

-         absurdity

-         over the top

-         dream/reality

-         life as theatre

-         critiques of church and government

We concluded the class by watching clips of Bunuel films.  Lots of comedy through satire.  Tends to poke fun at upper class/Bourgeoisie, pointing out fake qualities, used to mask identities.  We then saw a short clip from Tango, by Carlos Saura.