Spanish film

1970-2000; the ten Spanish films you need to watch

It may not have the big blockbuster names of Hollywood, but Spain has produced some undeniably classic cinema of its own. You’re probably familiar with the recent international success of Volver and Pan’s Labyrinth, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s a selection of some of the best of the Spanish silver screen over the past few decades…

• Jamon Jamon (Bigas Luna 1992)
  Penelope Cruz stars in Luna’s dark comedy about a bizarre love triangle and death by salted pork products.

• El Espíritu de la Colmena (Victor Erice 1973)
  ‘The Spirit of the Beehive’, Erice’s powerful comment of the futility and destruction of the Spanish Civil War, is perhaps most notable because of the performance of six-year-old Ana Torrent.

• El Perro del hortelano (Pilar Miró 1996)
  Miró’s reworking of a Lope de Vega play won seven Goyas.

• Los Santos Inocentes (Mario Camus 1984)
  Peasant abuse in 1960s Spain from a master of social realism.

• ¿Qué he hecho yo para merecer esto? (Pedro Almodóvar 1984)
  The first real work of Almodóvar genius was a dark, druggy comedy.

• Amantes (Vicente Aranda 1991)
  The Barcelona School old boy scored a huge hit with a titillating love triangle flick.

• Belle Epoque (Fernando Trueba 1992)
  A period love story that alerted the world to the new potential of Spanish cinema.

• La Ardilla roja (Julio Medem 1993)
  Amnesia-related brilliance from the premier Basque film-maker.

• Flamenco (Carlos Saura 1995)
  Revealing flamenco documentary from the old fox of Spanish cinema.

• El Día de la bestia (Álex de la Iglesia 1996)
  Highbrow it ain’t, but the Spanish go mad for Iglesia’s mix of humour and horror.