BBBB.5
(out of 5)
Ana Torrent, star of Victor Erice’s The Spirit of The Beehive three years earlier, is the central figure in this equally mesmerizing, haunting film about the lives of three little girls who are orphaned when their philandering father (Héctor Alterio) follows their unhappy mother (Geraldine Chaplin) to the grave. Now under the care of their caring but unprepared aunt, the girls spend the rest of their summer exploring their childhood, with Torrent at the centre reacting with anger and confusion at the betrayals she sees in her superiors. As a grown-up (also played by Chaplin), she narrates her memories of her youth and tries to interpret the metamorphosis that happened to her as she gained a deeper understanding of adult life. One of Carlos Saura’s most powerful films, it’s an exceptional instance of post-Franco cinema and features no shortage of top-notch performances, direction and writing.
Elías Querejeta Producciones Cinematográficas S.L.
Directed by Carlos Saura
Screenplay by Carlos Saura
Cinematography by Teo Escamilla
Produced by Elías Querejeta
Music by Frederic Mompou, Jose Luis Perales
Production Design by Rafael Palmero
Costume Design by Maiki Marin
Film Editing by Pablo G. del Amo
