Amor brujo, El (1986)

Director:

Carlos Saura

Writers:

Gregorio Martínez Sierra (libretto)
Carlos Saura (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 December 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Music | Drama

Plot:

Candela marries Jose; soon after he is stabbed to death in a brawl over another woman. Every night,...

Plot Keywords:

Singing | Dance | Flamenco | Ghost | Gypsy

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Antonio Gades	...	Carmelo
Cristina Hoyos	...	Candela
Laura del Sol	...	Lucía
Juan Antonio Jiménez	...	José
Emma Penella	...	Tía Rosario
La Polaca	...	Pastora
Gómez de Jerez	...	El Lobo / Cantaores
Enrique Ortega	...	Padre de José
Diego Pantoja	...	Padre de Candela
Giovana	...	Rocío
Maria Campano		(as Mari Campano)
Candy Román	...	Chulo
Enrique Pantoja
Manolo Sevilla	...	Cantaores
Antonio Solera	...	Guitarrista
Manuel Rodríguez	...	Guitarrista
Juan Manuel Roldán	...	Guitarrista

Directed by
Carlos Saura

Writing credits
Gregorio Martínez Sierra		(libretto) (as Martínez Sierra)
Carlos Saura		(screenplay) and
Antonio Gades		(screenplay)

Produced by
Emiliano Otegui	....	line producer
Emiliano Piedra	....	producer

Cinematography by
Teodoro Escamilla

Film Editing by
Pedro del Rey

Production Design by
Gerardo Vera

Costume Design by
Gerardo Vera

Production Management
Emiliano Otegui	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carlos Saura Medrano	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Ray Gillon	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Daniel Goldstein	....	sound
Ricardo Steinberg	....	sound
José Vinader	....	sound

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ana Alvargonzález	....	assistant costume designer (as Ana María Alvargonzález)

Music Department
Jesús López Cobos	....	conductor

Other crew
Antonio Gades	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• Emiliano Piedra

Distributors

• Filmayer (1986) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Orion Classics (1986) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Orion Classics (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Pacific Arts Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2007) (USA) (DVD) (as Eclipse from the Criterion Collection)
• D.A. International (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Janus Films (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Studio Canal (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• EMI-Odeon  soundtrack album
• Orquesta Nacional de España  orchestra

Also Known As:

A Love Bewitched
Carlos Saura Dance Trilogy, Part 3: El Amor Brujo (USA) (video title)
Love, the Magician

Runtime:

100 min | Argentina:108 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo | Dolby

Certification:

Spain:T | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S

Company:

Emiliano Piedra

Movie Connections:

Follows Bodas de sangre (1981)

Soundtrack:

El Amor Brujo

What great films "should" be...and rarely are

As an avid fan of classical music, ballet, opera, I am, more often than not, confounded by the poor quality of films based on these genres. If they're not "dumbed down," they are "interpreted," beyond recognition, or simply a vehicle for the director to shout: "look at me! I'm DIRECTING!"

But Carlos Saura has placed the story (full of passion, fire, lust, longing, love, sin and redemption) well ahead of his own ego. He simply allows the story to be told through dance, music and sparse dialogue.

Add to this the quality and nature of the choreography where again, we are simply allowed to experience the story: the dance, and its appropriateness to the subject matter tells us all.

Musically, it is almost, also, perfect. My one reservation lay in some acoustically "awkward" moments that render de Falla's critical orchestration less effective. I will not name them, in the hopes that the reader will not notice them and therefore, not be disappointed.

Nevertheless, the music is brilliant, and these three elements of form work together for a powerful, moving, and thrilling experience. As music with dance creates an experience that is more than both, this creation is much more than a film.

See it with a loved one. Or alone at night with a glass of Fundador...