Spain Through the Lens: A Festival of Classic Spanish Film
In collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution

Rei Berroa will open and close this festival
with an introduction and post-screening discussion on the films by Pilar Miró and Víctor Erice

Sun.-Tues., May 13-May 15; Thurs., May 17; _Sat., May 19, 6 p.m.
 This selection of extraordinary films is both an introduction to some of the finest film
 directors Spain has produced and a guided tour through important historical moments that
 have informed Spain's cultural identity. The films, which are screened in order of the
 historical period they represent, begin with Baroque court life, through turn-of-the-century
 rural Spain, the Spanish Civil War, Franco's regime, and modern-day Spain.
 

MAY 13 (SUN)
 Opening Night Film
 El Perro del Hortelano (The Dog in the Manger, d. Pilar Miró, 1995, color, Spanish w/Eng.
 subtitles), a sumptuous period comedia by Lope de Vega, follows the amorous Countess Belflor, who has  fallen for her handsome secretary Teodoro. Though their differing social standings prevent  them from consummating their passion, the countess is quite determined that no other  woman will have him.
National Museum of Women in the Arts. Followed by a light reception.

With Emma Suárez [Diana, Countess of Belflor], Carmelo Gómez Cebada [Teodoro, secretary], and Ana Duato [Carmela]. Music by José Nieto.  See the text of the play on line here
 
MAY 14 (MON)
Viridiana (d. Luis Bunuel, 1961, b&w, Spanish w/Eng. subtitles), tells the
 story of Viridiana, an idealistic num who opens the doors of her ancestral estate to a ragtag
 collection of hopeless souls, but her charity backfires. A scathing indictment of
 self-righteousness from a master of Surrealism. Ring Auditorium, HMSG.
 

MAY 15 (TUES)
Belle Epoque (d. Fernando Trueba, 1992, color, in Spanish w/Eng. subtitles)
 is a comedy rich with historical and social metaphor. Set prior to the Spanish Civil War, it
 tells the story of a young army deserter and his friendship (and trouble) with a politically
 like-minded farmer. Ring Auditorium, HMSG.
 

MAY 17 (THURS)
Bienvenido Mister Marshall (Welcome Mr. Marshall, d. Luis García Berlanga,
 1952, b&w, Spanish w/Eng. subtitles) features an eccentric small-town mayor who
 orchestrates elaborate and amusing preparations for a visit by high-level Americans
who will  bring U.S. dollars via the Marshall Plan.
National Museum of Women in the Arts.
 
MAY 19 (SAT)
Closing night film
El Sur (The South, d. Victor Erice, 1982, color, Spanish w/English subtitles).
The third of his feature-length films, El Sur  revolves around a curious young girl in the chilly north of Spain, whose father evokes for her the mysteries of the colorful, vibrant South.
Ring Auditorium, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden [HMSG]

Check Erice's filmography and some news about him.

For extra reading on these filmmakers and other issues related to cinema in Spain
check this basic bibliography that I have prepared for this program.