Flamenco (1995)

As a hall fills with performers, a narrator says that flamenco came from Andalucia, a mix of Greek psalms, Mozarabic dirges, Castillian ballads, Jewish laments, Gregorian chants, African ... See full summary »

Director:

Carlos Saura

Writer:

Carlos Saura

Stars:

La Paquera de Jerez, Merche Esmeralda, Manolo Sanlúcar

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
La Paquera de Jerez	...	Self (segment "Bulerías")
Merche Esmeralda	...	Self (segment "Guajira")
Manolo Sanlúcar	...	Self (segment "Alegrías")
Joaquín Cortés	...	Self (segment "Farruca")
Manuel Moneo	...	Self (segment "Martinete")
Agujeta	...	(segment "Martinete")
Mario Maya	...	Self (segment "Martinete")
Paco Toronjo	...	Self (segment "Fandangos de Huelva")
Antonio Toscano	...	Self (segment "Fandangos de Huelva")
Fernanda de Utrera	...	Self (segment "Soleares")
José Menese	...	Self (segment "Petenera")
María Pagés	...	Self (segment "Petenera")
Enrique Morente	...	Self (segment "Siguiriyas")
José Mercé	...	Self (segment "Soleá")
Manuela Carrasco	...	Self (segment "Soleá")

Storyline

As a hall fills with performers, a narrator says that flamenco came from Andalucia, a mix of Greek psalms, Mozarabic dirges, Castillian ballads, Jewish laments, Gregorian chants, African rhythms, and Iranian and Romany melodies. The film presents thirteen rhythms of flamenco, each with song, guitar, and dance: the up-tempo bularías, a brooding farruca, an anguished martinete, and a satiric fandango de huelva. There are tangos, a taranta, alegrías, siguiriyas, soleás, a guajira of patrician women, a petenera about a sentence to death, villancicos, and a final rumba. Families present numbers, both festive and fierce. The camera and the other performers are the only audience.

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Plot Keywords:

dance | flamenco music | flamenco dance | 

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Taglines:

In the tradition of Riverdance, one of the finest and most stunning performance films ever made.

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Did You Know?

Trivia

This celebration of the Spanish dance form features over 300 performers.

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Soundtracks

Fandangos de Huelva
Performed by Antonio Toscano, José A. Rodríguez and Juan C. Romero

User Reviews

Flamenco (de Carlos Saura) (1995)

Saura's love for flamenco (and formidable ability for capturing it on film) is well-established, and here he presents it pure and unadorned. Hundreds of musicians, singers and dancers provide an uninterrupted series of flamenco performances in all its forms and styles. The talent is dazzling and the passion is infectious, it's a marvelous tribute with glorious photography by Storaro, backlighting the performers in warm oranges and cool blues on sparse stages. There is one problem, though. For the first 20 minutes, it's electrifying and exhilarating, and I thought I might be watching a new favorite. But then the next 40 minutes are far too ballad-heavy. Although the material is very good, it kind of sucks the energy out of the room. Anyone who's ever sequenced an album, or even made a mixtape, knows you don't clump a bunch of slow songs together. Fortunately, the remainder of the film is more evenly paced with a much better mix of uptempo and downbeat. Although that slow stretch keeps the movie from being a masterpiece for me, overall I was delighted, and it made me want to pick up my guitar.

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

25 April 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Фламенко

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$22,106, 27 April 1997

Gross USA:

$480,941

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$480,941

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+ España, Juan Lebrón Producciones, Junta de Andalucía

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1