Carlos Saura: the Spanish filmmaker audiences still can't agree on
Carlos Saura, Spain's most divisive director: from the infamous dubbing of 'The Shining' to his flamenco and war films. Who was he really?
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Carlos Saura: the director audiences never forget (or forgive)
A recent viral video claiming Carlos Saura is from Huesca has sparked a wave of reactions proving the filmmaker still stirs up contradictory passions. To some he is a nobody; to others, an uncomfortable reference point. Saura directed everything from films about eighties slackers to historical dramas about the conquest of the Americas, including biopics about the Puerto Hurraco massacre and the Spanish Civil War. His versatility earned him admirers and detractors alike.
The versatile filmmaker
Saura's filmography spans wildly different genres. From eighties youth comedies to epic dramas about the discovery of the Americas, along with flamenco films like "Los Tarantos" — which some remember for its nighttime brawls and improvised dances in front of the Guardia Civil (Spain's rural police force). He also made "El séptimo día", based on the Puerto Hurraco killings, and several works about the Spanish Civil War. His ability to jump from style to style without losing his identity is what most surprises those who look back at his career.
Controversies and dubbing
Not everything was a success. Saura was at the center of a film-buff controversy: he is blamed for the most infamous dubbing in Spanish cinema history, that of Kubrick's "The Shining". The dubbed version broadcast on television for decades earned him the hatred of an entire generation of viewers. What's more, his films included provocative scenes — such as a close-up of a female character that caused a stir — still remembered with discomfort today.
A legacy between oblivion and resentment
The public's reaction to the question "who is Carlos Saura?" ranges from total ignorance to memories tinged with resentment. Some confuse his name with that of musician Carlos Santana or actress Mar Saura. Others simply call him an opportunist. What nobody disputes is that his work lives on in the debates of those who grew up with his films. The viral video about his Huesca origins has done nothing but open Pandora's box.
With this track record, Carlos Saura remains a mirror of the contradictions of Spanish cinema: loved by some, loathed by others, but never forgotten.
A recent viral video claiming Carlos Saura is from Huesca has sparked a wave of reactions proving the filmmaker still stirs up contradictory passions. To some he is a nobody; to others, an uncomfortable reference point. Saura directed everything from films about eighties slackers to historical dramas about the conquest of the Americas, including biopics about the Puerto Hurraco massacre and the Spanish Civil War. His versatility earned him admirers and detractors alike.
The versatile filmmaker
Saura's filmography spans wildly different genres. From eighties youth comedies to epic dramas about the discovery of the Americas, along with flamenco films like "Los Tarantos" — which some remember for its nighttime brawls and improvised dances in front of the Guardia Civil (Spain's rural police force). He also made "El séptimo día", based on the Puerto Hurraco killings, and several works about the Spanish Civil War. His ability to jump from style to style without losing his identity is what most surprises those who look back at his career.
Controversies and dubbing
Not everything was a success. Saura was at the center of a film-buff controversy: he is blamed for the most infamous dubbing in Spanish cinema history, that of Kubrick's "The Shining". The dubbed version broadcast on television for decades earned him the hatred of an entire generation of viewers. What's more, his films included provocative scenes — such as a close-up of a female character that caused a stir — still remembered with discomfort today.
A legacy between oblivion and resentment
The public's reaction to the question "who is Carlos Saura?" ranges from total ignorance to memories tinged with resentment. Some confuse his name with that of musician Carlos Santana or actress Mar Saura. Others simply call him an opportunist. What nobody disputes is that his work lives on in the debates of those who grew up with his films. The viral video about his Huesca origins has done nothing but open Pandora's box.
With this track record, Carlos Saura remains a mirror of the contradictions of Spanish cinema: loved by some, loathed by others, but never forgotten.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (17 replies).
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