The Spirit of the Beehive (1973)

In 1940, after watching and being traumatized by the movie Frankenstein (1931), a sensitive seven year-old girl living in a small Spanish village drifts into her own fantasy world.

Director:

Víctor Erice

Writers:

Ángel Fernández Santos (original screenplay), Víctor Erice (original screenplay)

Stars:

Fernando Fernán Gómez, Teresa Gimpera, Ana Torrent

7 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Fernando Fernán Gómez	...	Fernando
Teresa Gimpera	...	Teresa
Ana Torrent	...	Ana
Isabel Tellería	...	Isabel
Ketty de la Cámara	...	Milagros, la criada
Estanis González	...	Guardia civil
José Villasante	...	Frankenstein
Juan Margallo	...	Fugitivo
Laly Soldevila	...	Doña Lucía
Miguel Picazo	...	Doctor

Storyline

In Castilla around 1940, a traveling movie theatre brings James Whale's black and white film classic "Frankenstein" (1931) to a small village. Two young girls, Isabel and Ana, are subsequently determined to find the monster themselves.

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Plot Keywords:

imagination | magical realism | childhood | mushroom | beehive | 

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Taglines:

Entering a child's world of fascination and horror.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

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Goofs

When Ana and Isabel first go to the well, there are stones around the base. Ana steps on one to look down into the well. When she returns later there are no longer any stones so when she looks in to the well she is much too short to see down into it.

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Quotes

Ana: [about a mountain where a lot of mushrooms grow] Why don't we go there?
Fernando: It's too far, we would never make it with you weaklings. We will go sometime.

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Connections

Featured in The Footprints of a Spirit (1998)

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Soundtracks

Mi caravana
Written by Roberto Berki Jr. (as Roberto Berki) y Fernando Sedano (as F. Serrano)

User Reviews

gullible youth

Erice's film about a young girl who sits through a screening of the l931 classic Frankenstein with her older sister moves slowly along but has some startling moments that unexpectedly bubble up. The girl (Ana Torrent) has a face that would melt anyone's heart and gives a terrific performance for a child (or anyone). The older sister (Isabel Telleria) also terrific, likes to lead her little sister along, and convinces her that Frankenstein exists in the here and now and can be easily found in an abandoned farm or by simply closing your eyes. The farm is a much more compelling setting and seeing the little girl alone there gives you the chills because you know one day someone might actually show up and while it probably won't be Frankenstein, it could be someone dangerous. Her inevitable disillusionment is dramatically presented when she runs away from her home. Her adventure takes the viewer along on a emotional ride especially when we see our little friend sitting down beside the toxic mushrooms that her father told her and her sister never to eat. Set in the seemingly endless Spanish countryside in 1940 and nicely filmed in color, it is a quiet little film with a big dramatic impact.

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

14 March 1975 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

The Spirit of the Beehive

Filming Locations:

Palacio de Hoyuelos, Hoyuelos, Segovia, Castilla y León, Spain

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$131,811

Company Credits

Production Co:

Elías Querejeta Producciones Cinematográficas S.L., Jacel Desposito

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1