Carmen (2003)

On a journey through Spain, the French writer Prosper Merimee (Jay Benedict) is forced by fate to be the witness of a story of passion... See full synopsis »

Director:

Vicente Aranda

Writers:

Vicente Aranda, Joaquim Jordà,

Stars:

Paz Vega, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Antonio Dechent

2 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paz Vega	...	Carmen
Leonardo Sbaraglia	...	José
Antonio Dechent	...	Tuerto
Joan Crosas	...	Dancaire
Jay Benedict	...	Próspero
Joe Mackay	...	Teniente
Josep Linuesa	...	Lucas
Julio Vélez	...	Señorito
Emilio Linder	...	Aristóteles
Miguel Ángel Valcárcel	...	Juanele
Simon Shepherd	...	Magistrado
Ismael Martínez	...	Antonio
Ginés García Millán	...	Tempranillo
Susi Sánchez	...	Blanca
María Botto	...	Fernanda

Storyline

On a journey through Spain, the French writer Prosper Merimee (Jay Benedict) is forced by fate to be the witness of a story of passion... See full synopsis »

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Plot Keywords:

female rear nudity | footsie under the table | sex | female nudity | female frontal nudity | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Terra [es ]

Country:

Spain UK Italy

Language:

Spanish Basque French

Release Date:

3 October 2003 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Carmen - Divoká vásen

Filming Locations:

Córdoba, Andalucía, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$1,141,628 (Spain) (3 October 2003)

Gross:

$2,868,792 (Spain) (17 October 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Star Line TV Productions S.L., TeleMadrid, Alythia Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Carmen (2002)

User Reviews

Excellent, enjoyable update on the Femme Fatale genre

I thoroughly enjoyed Carmen, better than Original Sin (Angelina Jolie & Antonio Bandaras), which share some thematic similarities, and which I also enjoyed very much. I felt the acting was stronger here (Paz Vega displayed a wider range, has more fire; and Sbaraglia was also great). Overall, their acting was more gritty, more believable (less dreamy than Original Sin, and both actors here had less 'celebrity status' and 'pretty face' to depend on to make the movie work. Vega definitely sizzles, as to be expected.

Director Vincente Aranda has also built a detailed world (again, better than Original Sin) that lets you feel the grime and the daily goings-on of archaic Spain - for example, people unloading goods from a cart on the street, workers changing the candles of the street lamps, all in the background of the action.

Whilst I greatly sympathize with the recent idea of redeeming our femme fatals (like Brian de Palma's Femme Fatale), Carmen is a poignant, modern take in the tradition of the noir classic Double Indemnity, and is a delightful pleasure to watch. This is another fine example of the triumph of daring European cinema over glitzy and safe Hollywood fare.