¡Ay, Carmela! (1990)

Director:

Carlos Saura

Writers:

Rafael Azcona (writer)
José Sanchís Sinisterra (play)

Release Date:

8 February 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Paulino and Carmela are husband and wife, troubadours touring the countryside during the Spanish Civil War...

Plot Keywords:

Lieutenant | Female Nudity | Civil War | War | Spain

Awards:

22 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Carmen Maura	...	Carmela
Andrés Pajares	...	Paulino
Gabino Diego	...	Gustavete
Maurizio De Razza	...	Lt. Ripamonte
José Sancho	...	Capitán
Mario De Candia	...	Bruno
Miguel Rellán	...	Teniente interrogador
Edward Zentara	...	Polish Officer
Rafael Díaz	...	Centinela
Chema Mazo	...	Alcalde
Antonio Fuentes	...	Alferez artillero
Mario Martín	...	Cacique
Emilio del Valle	...	Cabo Cardoso
Silvia Casanova	...	Mujer presa
Alfonso Guirao	...	Campesino

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

Spain | Italy

Language:

Spanish | Polish | Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Iceland:L | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain

Company:

Ellepi Films

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fiesta, La (2003)

Soundtrack:

Mi jaca

meta theater reflexion upon the reconstruction of memory

Saura's superb display of a well-chosen fit between music and the story that is going on "behind the curtains". He is a master on that. Kind of idealistic view of the Spanish Civil War, as a result of the political moment of "institutional silent" when democracy is possible in Spain again. (90')He took the amazing and just genial play by Sinisterra and make it a new piece of art. Makes you laugh and cry..although the vision of Carmela as the representation of "la republic" inserts women in a stereotyped context of the "abstraction" that does not let her be part of the struggle for democracy, hand by hand with human kind..men in this case.. highly recommended, but also should be followed by the reading of the theater play.