Thursday Movie Picks: Spanish Films

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This week's theme from Wandering Through the Shelves is another foreign edition. Films in the Spanish language. One of my all time favorite foreign films happens to be Spanish, but when I went to type up this post this week, I realized I've only seen a handful of Spanish films. I'll need to broaden my horizon. Here are a few I enjoy.

 1) Pan's Labyrinth

 This is one of my favorite films. It's so stylish, I loved the dark fairy tale element to it tied into the horrors of living with a crazy tyrant of a step father. 

 2) The Sea Inside

 I watched this for the first time during Four Ways a Best Picture and it was one of the stronger foreign contenders for me. Javier Bardem was wonderful.

 3) The Orphanage

 I toyed with the idea of this one or Rec, both are creepy Spanish horror films, but this one is a bit more memorable to me due to its haunting visuals. 

click the gifs to be redirected to their makers

Comments

  1. Big Screen Small WordsMay 12, 2016 at 1:54 AM

    I love Pan's Labyrinth! The Sea Inside sounds interesting, and though I don't watch a lot of horror, the gif looks creepy.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 12, 2016 at 10:10 AM

      The Orphange is a pretty creept flick, but it's gorgeous creepy like Pan's lol.

      Delete
  2. MyerlaMay 12, 2016 at 5:38 AM

    Seen both Pan's Labyrinth and The Orphanage, love both films. The latter is so moving as well as creepy (as in Pan's Labyrinth). Great picks.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 12, 2016 at 10:09 AM

      Yes, they're both beautifully creepy. I never get sick of watching Pan's.

      Delete
  3. joel65913May 12, 2016 at 8:22 AM

    Pan's Labyrinth is incredibly inventive in its dark and brooding way. Javier Bardem is phenomenal in Sea Inside, he's actually the reason I'd recommend the film. Haven't seen The Orphanage.

    I struggled about this week since my knowledge of Spanish language films is cursory but did manage to finally come up with three.

    Before Night Falls (2000)-Based on the writings of Cuban author Reinaldo Arenas this film spans his lifetime through his country youth, embracing of the Revolution and his later persecution as a writer and openly gay man in Castro's Cuba, his escape in the Mariel Harbor exodus of 1980, exile and death in the United States. Not a pleasant film but worthwhile. Javier Bardem is staggering in the lead, earning a well-deserved Oscar nomination.

    Burnt Money (2000)-Argentine action thriller about two violent bank robbers who are also lovers, a bank job they pull that goes wrong and the pursuit and standoff that follows. Very erotic for this type of action film, based on actual events.

    Tristana (1970)-Luis Buñuel directed this murky tale of emotional battery and vicious score settling. Tristana (Catherine Deneuve) is orphaned and taken under the protection of respected elder Don Lope (Fernando Rey). He takes advantage of the situation and makes her a virtual prisoner while demoralizing her to break her spirit, eventually the tables are turned in an unexpected fashion. Good acting by Deneuve, Rey and Franco Nero but the characters are ultimately all a pretty loathsome bunch to care too deeply about.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 12, 2016 at 10:08 AM

      I haven't seen these, but I've heard of Burnt Money. Thank you for sharing! Before Night Falls sounds like something I'd enjoy.

      Delete
  4. DellMay 12, 2016 at 8:53 AM

    All three are excellent picks. Glad to see The Orphanage got recognized today. Great job.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 12, 2016 at 10:07 AM

      Why, thank you! Thanks for suggesting this topic.

      Delete
  5. m.brownMay 12, 2016 at 9:06 AM

    I dug the other two, but I really need to watch The Sea Inside. Great Bardem sounds like a good time.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 12, 2016 at 10:06 AM

      He's amazing in it, and way more upbeat then I would be in that situation.

      Delete
  6. Sonia CercaMay 12, 2016 at 9:52 AM

    I loved Pan's Labyrinth, and The Sea Inside is probably my favourite Spanish movie. Bardem is outstanding in there.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 12, 2016 at 10:06 AM

      He is. That was one of my favorite discoveries when I did Fisti's blogathon.

      Delete
  7. Katie HoganMay 12, 2016 at 10:53 AM

    The gif for Pan's is great - my friends and I were always doing this at college, can't remember why though. The Pale Man still freaks me out!

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  8. DanielMay 12, 2016 at 5:47 PM

    Pan's Labyrinth is a masterpiece, one of my All-Time Favorites. So is The Orphanage - Belen Rueda is so great as the mother. I have yet to see The Sea Inside but it looks really good.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 13, 2016 at 6:39 AM

      Pan's is definitely a masterpiece. I never tire of watching it.

      Delete
  9. thevoid99May 12, 2016 at 8:47 PM

    I've seen 2 of these as I've done both Auteurs pieces on Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Amenabar. As for The Orphanage, I have the film on DVD but I'm saving it for October.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 13, 2016 at 6:39 AM

      That's a good October movie. I hope you enjoy it.

      Delete
  10. Candice FrederickMay 12, 2016 at 9:31 PM

    omg i looooove Rec (and still haven't seen The Orphanage yet). And I love Pan's Labyrinth. You should also see Secuestrados.

    ReplyDelete
  11. BirgitMay 12, 2016 at 9:33 PM

    I also picked Pan's Labyrinth and find it so heartbreaking and yet, magical even if creepy. That freak lacking in vitamin D really freaked me out. I haven't seen the other 2 and the Orphanage is one I'm not sure I will see as it sounds scary.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 13, 2016 at 6:38 AM

      It's creepy, but I don't know if I'd call it scary. Unsettling, lol.

      Delete
  12. WandererMay 19, 2016 at 5:13 AM

    The only one I haven't seen is The Sea Inside. And you mentioned REC as well...another good Spanish horror.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamMay 19, 2016 at 6:37 AM

      Rec is great, I even liked the American remake. It was a good premise. I never saw the sequels though.

      Delete
  13. KhalidMay 19, 2016 at 12:25 PM

    Really cool picks. Have not seen The Orphanage but cool list otherwise. Amores perros is one film I'd put on my list. Don't know if you've seen it but its Inarritu's debut feature and a really terrific film

    ReplyDelete

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