Volver a empezar (1982)

A Nobel prize winner returns to his natal city looking for his home.

Director:

José Luis Garci

Writers:

José Luis Garci (as J.L. Garci), Ángel Llorente

Stars:

Antonio Ferrandis, Encarna Paso, José Bódalo

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Antonio Ferrandis	...	Antonio Albajara
Encarna Paso	...	Elena
José Bódalo	...	Roxiu (as Jose Bodalo)
Agustín González	...	Gervasio Losada (as Agustin Gonzalez)
Pablo Hoyos	...	Ernesto
Marta Fernández Muro	...	Carolina (as Marta Fernandez Muro)
Pablo del Hoyo	...	Sabino
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pedro Ruiz	...	Juan Carlos I (voice)
Manuel Vega-Arango	...	Self

Storyline

Antonio Albajara is a successful poet and teacher in the Berkeley University that returns to Gijón (Principality of Asturias, north to Spain). He travels there looking for everything that he left behind in his youth when he turned a well-known poet and writer in Mexico and USA, winning the Nobel prize with time. In Gijón he meets again with his past in Roxiu, an old friend (both played in the Sporting of Gijón's soccer team years ago) and Elena, his great-love of past times. Through his memory, his friends and Elena, Antonio starts an unforgettable journey by everyone.

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Plot Keywords:

youth | friend | love | homeland | journey | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Spain's official submission to the 1983's Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

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Connections

Featured in ¿Dónde estabas entonces?: 1983 (2018)

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Soundtracks

Canon in D Major
By Johann Pachelbel

User Reviews

Aimez vous Pachelbel?

"You're the One" was a magnificent film by José Luis Garci, I was mesmerized by it. I started "Volver a empezar" with great expectations getting ready to enjoy it as much as the above mentioned but ended up terribly disappointed.

Maybe being one of this director earlier productions it wasn't yet the refined product he could create later on. The acting in general is quite wooden, save Agustín González, who, with sauciness and great panache gives credibility to his unctuous character.

One of the most emotional scenes, the one where Roxiu (José Bódalo) reads the medical information -I don't want to spoil the storyline- is completely botched by this actor, incapable with his limited acting range, to convey his shock at the revelation that should have overwhelmed him.

Elena, the old Albajara's flame (Encarna Paso) is tepid and most of the time expressionless, with a blank, vacant stare like that of a myopic person without glasses.

But these objections are nothing compared with the MUSIC..., from the very beginning the LOUDNESS and the REPETITION of two very beautiful pieces ("Pachelbel's Canon in D Major" and Gershwin's "Begin the Beguine") get a negative effect in every scene where they are used (and they are used to the bitter end with a vengeance).

I was surprised at the dismal location, Gijón, a sad, melancholic, gray, humid city, but then, maybe the sites were selected on purpose, to reflect the main character depressed mood.

I'm sure that Garci could remake this film nowadays and produce an authentic jewel, because this one, I'm afraid, is only bijouterie.

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish English

Release Date:

1 March 1982 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Begin the Beguine

Filming Locations:

Cudillero, Asturias, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

ESP40,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nickel Odeon

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1