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.
Biutiful (2010)
7.5/10
Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu
Starring: Javier Bardem
Javier Bardem gives a powerful performance in director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's ("21 Grams") stirring drama about a small-time Barcelona criminal... Read more
Volver (2006)
7.6/10
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Penelope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Duenas, Blanca Portillo, Yohana Cobo, Chus Lam...
Pedro Almodovar's 16th feature film stars Penelope Cruz as a hard-working janitor, supporting a daughter and a layabout husband in Madrid. Her own mo... 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
Tango (1998)
7.2/10
Director: Carlos Saura
Starring: Mia Maestro, Juan Carlos Copes, Cecilia Narova, Miguel Angel Sola
This beautifully crafted film from the director of "Carmen" and "Blood Wedding" tells of a middle-aged choreographer who is producing a film about tan... Read more
Alatriste (2006)
6.1/10
Director: Agustin Diaz Yanes
Starring: Javier Camara, Viggo Mortensen, Elena Anaya, Eduard Fernandez, Enrico Lo Verso
Viggo Mortensen leads an all-star cast in this swashbuckling period drama about Diego Alatriste, a former soldier and mercenary who becomes a hero of... Read more
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
7.1/10
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Patricia Clarkso...
Set in the titular Spanish city, Woody Allen's romantic drama features the new Allen favourite Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall as American tourist... Read more
Dark Habits (1984)
6.6/10
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Carmen Maura, Christina Pascual, Julieta Serrano
A blackly funny tale of a nightclub singer who flees when her lover dies of a drug overdose and takes refuge in a convent, only to find that the siste... Read more
The Skin I Live In (2011)
7.6/10
Director: Pedro Almodovar
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Marisa Paredes, Elena Anaya, Jan Cornet, Roberto Alamo
Marked by his typically twisted storyline and skewed eroticism, this kinky thriller from writer/director Pedro Almodovar stars Antonio Banderas as a n... 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
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