El amor brujo (1986)

In a Gypsy village, the fathers of Candela and José promise their children to each other. Years later, the unfaithful José marries Candela but while defending his lover Lucía in a brawl, he... See full summary »

Director:

Carlos Saura

Writers:

Gregorio Martínez Sierra (libretto), Carlos Saura (screenplay),

Stars:

Antonio Gades, Cristina Hoyos, Laura del Sol

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Antonio Gades	...	Carmelo
Cristina Hoyos	...	Candela
Laura del Sol	...	Lucía
Juan Antonio Jiménez	...	José (as Juan Antonio Jimenez)
Emma Penella	...	Tía Rosario
La Polaca	...	Pastora
Gómez de Jerez	...	El Lobo / Cantaor (as Gomez de Jerez)
Enrique Ortega	...	Padre de José
Diego Pantoja	...	Padre de Candela
Giovana	...	Rocío
Maria Campano	...	(as Mari Campano)
Candy Román	...	Chulo (as Candy Roman)
Enrique Pantoja
Manolo Sevilla	...	Cantaor
Antonio Solera	...	Guitarrista

Storyline

In a Gypsy village, the fathers of Candela and José promise their children to each other. Years later, the unfaithful José marries Candela but while defending his lover Lucía in a brawl, he is stabbed to death. Carmelo, who secretly loves Candela since he was a boy, is arrested while helping José and unfairly sent to prison. Four years later he is released and declares his love for Candela. However, the woman is cursed by a bewitched love and every night she goes to the place where José died to dance with his ghost.

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Plot Keywords:

ghost | dance | gypsy | knife | fighting | 

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Genres:

Music | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

23 December 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Carlos Saura Dance Trilogy, Part 3: El Amor Brujo

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 43,995,530 (Spain)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Emiliano Piedra

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby 4-Track Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Tía Rosario: Lucía still loves José. She was his lover in life, let her be his lover in death, too.
Carmelo: What do you mean?
Tía Rosario: Didn't José die defending her honor? If he died for her, it's fitting that she should offer him her love.
Carmelo: Her love?... You mean her life.
Tía Rosario: My son... The happiness of some always comes at the expense of others. That's how life is. You must speak to Lucía. Tell her to go tonight to where José died, where Candela meets the apparition. Talk to Candela. Arrange it with her.
Carmelo: There's no other way?
Tía Rosario: [...]

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Connections

Follows Blood Wedding (1981)

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Soundtracks

"Y tu mirar"
Written by Manuel Molina (as Manuel Molina)

User Reviews

What great films "should" be...and rarely are

As an avid fan of classical music, ballet, opera, I am, more often than not, confounded by the poor quality of films based on these genres. If they're not "dumbed down," they are "interpreted," beyond recognition, or simply a vehicle for the director to shout: "look at me! I'm DIRECTING!"

But Carlos Saura has placed the story (full of passion, fire, lust, longing, love, sin and redemption) well ahead of his own ego. He simply allows the story to be told through dance, music and sparse dialogue.

Add to this the quality and nature of the choreography where again, we are simply allowed to experience the story: the dance, and its appropriateness to the subject matter tells us all.

Musically, it is almost, also, perfect. My one reservation lay in some acoustically "awkward" moments that render de Falla's critical orchestration less effective. I will not name them, in the hopes that the reader will not notice them and therefore, not be disappointed.

Nevertheless, the music is brilliant, and these three elements of form work together for a powerful, moving, and thrilling experience. As music with dance creates an experience that is more than both, this creation is much more than a film.

See it with a loved one. Or alone at night with a glass of Fundador...