Year of Enlightment (1986)
"El año de las luces" (original title)

April, 1940. Manolo, 16 years old, and Jesus, who is just 8, are taken by their older brother Pepe, a lieutenant in the Army, to a sanatorium for children suffering from tuberculosis, ... See full summary »

Director:

Fernando Trueba

Writers:

Rafael Azcona, Manuel Huete (story),

Stars:

Jorge Sanz, Maribel Verdú, Verónica Forqué

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jorge Sanz	...	Manolo
Maribel Verdú	...	María Jesús
Verónica Forqué	...	Irene
Manuel Alexandre	...	Emilio
Rafaela Aparicio	...	Rafaela
Santiago Ramos	...	Pepe
Chus Lampreave	...	Doña Tránsito
José Sazatornil	...	Don Teódulo
Violeta Cela	...	Vicenta
Diana Peñalver	...	Paquita
Lucas Martín	...	Jesús
Juan de Pablos	...	Padre José
Pedro Reyes	...	Pascual
Pilar Marco	...	Pepita
José María Cañete	...	Caballero

Storyline

April, 1940. Manolo, 16 years old, and Jesus, who is just 8, are taken by their older brother Pepe, a lieutenant in the Army, to a sanatorium for children suffering from tuberculosis, situated on the border with Portugal. Once in the sanatorium, Manolo, surrounded by boys all much younger than he is, feels a bit like the cock of the walk since the only other man around is the handyman Emilio who looks after the gardens and does whatever needs to be done about the place. His wife, Rafaela, is the cook. Manolo meets Irene, a falangist who runs the sanatorium, and the school teacher, Miss Transito, a crabby spinster. He has his first sexual experience, albeit as a voyeur, with his nurse Vicenta. When she has to leave, her place is taken by a girl from the village, Maria Jesus, with whom Manolo falls hopelessly in love. A relationship grows up between them which will mark them both for ever.

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Plot Keywords:

spanish civil war | spain

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish French

Release Date:

5 December 1986 (Spain)

Also Known As:

The Year of Awakening

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 222,086,864 (Spain)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Iberoamericana Films Producción

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

"A Manolo"

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Connections

Featured in ¿Qué fue de Jorge Sanz?: Edad Media (2010)

User Reviews

A Gentle awakening

This beautifully sensitive rites of passage film was co-authored by Rafael Azcona and the director Fernando Trueba, who later worked together on the Oscar-winning Belle Epoque. Those who enjoyed that film, or indeed any thoughtful film with sensitive characterisation, will enjoy this too. There are so few films of this quality made in any language, and it deserves much wider recognition. The two teenage leads Jorge Sanz and Maribel Verdu are perfectly cast and show how exquisite can be the process of discovery and self-discovery in young lovers brought together at a time of maximum curiosity and receptiveness. A beautiful film.