He is born in Huesca in 1932, and studied at the Instituto de Investigaciones y Experiencias Cinematográficas in Madrid. His debut is with the documentary “Cuenca” (1958). In 1960 he directs “Los golfos”, clearly influenced by neorealism, and in 1960 surprises both critics and the public with “La caza”. During the mid 1970s is born his collaboration with the producer Elías Querejeta, thus launching the most productive period of his career, with titles such as “Peppermint frappé”, “La prima Angélica”, “Cría cuervos” or “Mamá cumple cien años”. During the decade of the 80s, along with Antonio Gades, he films “Bodas de sangre”, “Carmen” and “El amor brujo”. Over the last few decades, he has centred his productions on documentary films, like “Sevillanas”, “Flamenco” or “Tango”. He died in Madrid in 2023.
Awards
Prize to the Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival (1965)
Special Jury Award at the Cannes International Festival (1973)
National Film Award (1980)
Golden Bear at the Berlin International Festival (1981)
Spanish-Portuguese Art and Culture Award (2012)
Honorary Goya Award (2023)
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¡Ay, Carmela! (direction, script)
A bitter sweet comedy set in the divided sides of Spain facing each other in the Civil War, winner of 13 Goya awards.
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Raise Ravens (direction, script)
A personal, intimate work by its director, that was also a box office hit outside Spain.
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Deprisa, deprisa (direction, script)
Winner of the Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival. It shows the world of juvenile delinquents in the 1980s, featuring real young delinquents.
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The Hunt (direction, script)
A significant piece from 1960s Spanish cinema. It is a metaphor for the wounds of the Civil War, and won the Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival.
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Other highlighted works
- Flamenco
