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.
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
The Night of the Sunflowers (2006)
7.1/10
Director: Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo
Starring: Carmelo Gomez, Celso Bugallo
The discovery of a young woman's dead body in the middle of a sunflower field near a quiet village will lead to a tragic string of events, and a vicio... Read more
Pan's Labyrinth (El laberinto del fauno) (Blu-Ray) (2006)
8.2/10
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Alex Angulo, Ariadna Gil, Maribel Verdu, Sergi Lopez, Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones
It's 1944 and the Allies have invaded Nazi-held Europe. In Spain, a troop of soldiers are sent to a remote forest to flush out the rebels. They are le... 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
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
8.2/10
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Ivana Baquero, Ariadna Gil, Sergi Lopez, Doug Jones, Maribel Verdu, Alex Angulo
Pan's Labyrinth is Alice in Wonderland for grown-ups, with the horrors of both reality and fantasy blended together into an extraordinary, spellbindin... 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
Princesses (2006)
6.7/10
Director: Fernando Leon de Aranoa
Starring: Candela Pena, Micaela Nevarez, Mariana Cordero, Llum Barrera, Violeta Perez
A compassionate and sobering drama about two young prostitutes, from very different backgrounds, who work the streets of Madrid. Caye comes from a mi... Read more
To Die in San Hilario (2005)
6.4/10
Director: Laura Mana
Starring: Ana Fernandez, Lluis Homar
A fictional story with touches of magical realism a film which touches on life, death, love, truth, faith, doubt and hope. San Hilario is a village... Read more
The Method (2005)
7.3/10
Director: Marcelo Pineyro
Starring: Eduardo Noriega, Najwa Nimri, Eduard Fernandez, Pablo Echarri, Ernesto Alterio,...
A cutting corporate satire from Spain, based on a famous play by Jordi Galceran, it features seven job applicants who turn up for an interview and fin... Read more
Gisaku (2005)
5.7/10
Director: Baltasar Pedrosa
A spell transports a 17th century samurai to modern day Spain, in this entertaining animated action-fantasy. Waking centuries from his home, Yohei is... Read more