Carmen **** (1983, Antonio Gades, Laura del Sol, Paco de Lucía, Marisol, Cristina Hoyos, Juan Antonio Jiménez) – Classic Movie Review 9834

Antonio Gades (as the choreographer Antonio and the film’s real choreographer) and sizzling Laura del Sol (as the main dancer Carmen) kick up a storm in director Carlos Saura’s 1983 Spanish dance film Carmen.

In director Carlos Saura’s 1983 Spanish dance film Carmen, life imitates art as the choreographer falls for the leading lady at a rehearsal for a flamenco ballet version of Georges Bizet’s opera, based on Prosper Mérimée’s novel.

They enjoy a fling, although she is married with a husband in prison, but then he catches her making love to a chorus boy.

Antonio Gades (as the choreographer Antonio and he is also the film’s real choreographer) and sizzling Laura del Sol (as the main dancer Carmen) kick up a storm, while both the dancing and Saura’s direction are riveting in this inspired dance film driven along with plenty of Bizet’s music.

Notable singers include Regina Resnik and Mario Del Monaco.

Also in the cast are Paco de Lucía, Marisol, Cristina Hoyos, Juan Antonio Jiménez, Sebastián Moreno, José Yepes, and Marisol.

It is the second part of Saura’s tremendous 1980s flamenco trilogy, following Blood Wedding (1981) and followed by El amor brujo (1986).

It was Oscar nominated in 1984 for Best Foreign Language Film and won the 1985 BAFTA Film Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Saura won Best Artistic Contribution and Technical Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival (1983).

It follows Saura’s Blood Wedding (1981), also with Gades, Hoyos and Jiménez.

It is followed by Francesco Rosi’s opera film Carmen (1984).

The renowned Spanish film director Carlos Saura died of respiratory failure at home on 10 February 2023, at the age of 91. Saura won many awards including: Silver Bear in the Berlin Festival for The Hunt in 1965, and for Peppermint Frappé in 1967. Special Jury Awards in Cannes for Cousin Angelica  in 1973, and for Cría Cuervos in 1975. Also, the film Mama Turns 100 was Oscar nominated in 1979 as the best foreign film.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9834

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