Carmen (I) (1983)

A group of flamenco dancers are rehearsing a very spanish version of the Prosper Merimee's drama. Antonio (the coreographer) falls in love with Carmen (the main dancer). Their story then ... See full summary »

Director:

Carlos Saura

Writers:

Prosper Mérimée (novel), Carlos Saura (scenario),

Stars:

Antonio Gades, Laura del Sol, Paco de Lucía

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Antonio Gades	...	Antonio
Laura del Sol	...	Carmen
Paco de Lucía	...	Paco
Marisol	...	Pepa Flores (as Pepa Flores)
Cristina Hoyos	...	Cristina
Juan Antonio Jiménez	...	Juan
José Yepes	...	Pepe Girón
Sebastián Moreno	...	Escamillo
Gómez de Jerez	...	Cantaores
Manolo Sevilla	...	Cantaores
Antonio Solera	...	Guitarristes
Manuel Rodríguez	...	Guitarristes
Lorenzo Virseda	...	Guitarristes
M. Magdalena	...	Artistas invitados
La Bronce	...	Artistas invitados

Storyline

A group of flamenco dancers are rehearsing a very spanish version of the Prosper Merimee's drama. Antonio (the coreographer) falls in love with Carmen (the main dancer). Their story then turns similar to the play.

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Plot Keywords:

jealousy | flamenco | opera | backstage | rehearsal | 

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Taglines:

Never before has the art of flamenco dance been so pulsatingly sensual. Or a love so treacherously obsessive. In this explosive interpretation of the classic opera "Carmen", the lines between passionate illusion and real life become intricately entwined. Your senses will be aroused like never before. And never again will you see anything like it.

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

6 May 1983 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Carmen story

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 103,756,792 (Spain)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Emiliano Piedra, Televisión Española (TVE)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Carmen (1918)

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Soundtracks

"Deja de llorar"
Written by Paco Cepero
Performed by Marisol

User Reviews

Watch the film, leave the opera out of it

In Carmen, Saura once again seeks to establish a dynamic rapport between reality and fiction, between the actual passions of the personalities in a dance company preparing the choreography for the dance portions of the opera Carmen and the scripted passions from the story of the fictional Carmen, the famous fatal mix of a free spirit (read disregard for fidelity) and her ability to drive men mad with desire. Saura used this same vehicle fiction/reality in an earlier black-and-white film, Bodes de Sangre (Blood Wedding). But, whereas the tensions between the dancers rehearsing Blood Wedding showed to advantage how they evolved into the fictional characters of the story to be performed through directing their emotions into their roles, in Carmen, the parallel between the petty, libidinal urges of the dancers of the troop during rehearsals and the spirit forging to do with the mythic Carmen never comes even close to being believable. It remains a gadget, and, for that reason, a bothersome distraction. One really needs to see Blood Wedding next to Carmen to appreciate the comparison. However, it hardly matters, the melodrama Saura tries to impose upon his Carmen, because the Flamenco dancing and guitar music of the rehearsals_ which are 95% of the film _by some of the best known Flamenco dancers and musicians, more than repays the price of entry. A flawed film, and a wonder: perfect for doing a drill in Keats's 'negative capacity', perhaps?