Spanish & Portuguese Cinema
Undoubtedly the backbone of Alice's Spanish collection are the films of Pedro Almodovar. Since the 1980s this unique film maker has been bringing us such gems as 'Laws of Desire', 'Women on the Verge...' and 'Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down' and nurturing the talents of actors such as Antonio Banderas, Victoria Abril and Penelope Cruz.
But there is more to Spanish film than the talented Mr Almodovar. Everything from the beautiful and haunting works of Carlos Saura to the off-beat and darkly humourous tales of Alex de Iglesia.
Pictured right: One-of-a-kind helmer, Pedro Almodovar.
Kika (1993)
6.5/10
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Victoria Abril, Peter Coyote, Veronica Forque, Alex Casanovas, Rossy de Palma
A wacky, colourful, very adult story about a free-spirited make-up artist Kika (Veronica Forque) and the men in her life, including a corpse, an Ameri... Read more
Killing Words (2003)
Director: Laura Mana
Starring: Goya Toledo, Dario Grandinetti, Fernando Guillen, Eric Bonicatto
A.k.a. "Palabras Encadenadas". Locked in a dark basement, Laura (Goya Toledo), a psychiatrist in her early thirties, contemplates in horror a video wh... Read more
King of the Hill (2007)
7.3/10
Director: Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego
Starring: Leonardo Sbaraglia, Maria Valverde
It was meant to be a quiet drive across the Spanish countryside, but a simple detour to a mountain turns Quim's roadtrip into a living nightmare. A su... Read more
La Ardilla Roja ( aka The Red Squirrel ) (1993)
Director: Julio Medem
Starring: Emma Suarez, Maria Barranco, Nancho Novo, Karra Elejalde, Carmelo Gomez
An anti-macho parable and passionate love story about a woman who loses her memory in a motorcycle accident. Suicidal Jota saw the whole thing and put... Read more
Law of Desire (1986)
7.2/10
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Eusebio Poncela, Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas
Bizarre and beguiling gender-flipping tale from Spain, detailing the quest for happiness and love by two siblings: one a successful gay theatre direct... Read more
Libertarias (1996)
7.1/10
Director: Vicente Aranda
Starring: Miguel Bose, Ana Belen, Ariadna Gil
This big-budget Spanish drama pays tribute to the courageous women who sacrificed their lives during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Maria's peaceful l... Read more
Live Flesh (1997)
7.4/10
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Angela Molina, Francesca Neri, Javier Bardem, Liberto Rabal, Penelope Cruz
During a fight with his junkie girlfriend, police intervene and an officer is shot. Six years later the wrongly convicted Victor is shocked to learn h... Read more
Living is Easy with Eyes Closed (2013)
7.1/10
Director: David Trueba
Starring: Javier Camara, Natalia de Molina, Francesc Colomer, Jorge Sanz
Scooping Spains Goya Awards this year (Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Actor, New Actress and Original Score), Living Is Easy with Eyes Closed is... Read more
Lovers of the Arctic Circle (1998)
7.8/10
Director: Julio Medem
Starring: Najwa Nimri, Fele Martinez, Sara Valiente, Victor Hugo Oliviera
This startling, quirky and deeply romantic drama focuses on two lovers who first cross at the age of eight when each is running for different reasons.... Read more
Marshland (2014)
7.3/10
Director: Alberto Rodriguez
Starring: Javier Gutierrez, Raul Arevalo, Antonio de la Torre, Nerea Barros
Spain in the early 80s. Two young girls disappear from a town deep in the Guadalquivir wetlands. Two detectives are sent from Madrid; both use very di... Read more