Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Great Spanish Films since 1950. Ronald Schwartz. 417p. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2008. 978–0–8108–5405–5; 2007–44210. $85.

From Luis Buñuel to Alejandro Amenábar, Spanish directors have produced films of remarkable force and imagination. Retired professor of film and Romance languages Ronald Schwartz presents 132 films for consideration in his survey of nearly 60 years of Spanish cinema. During this period, Spain experienced tremendous change, moving from an isolated nation under the dictatorship of Franco to fledgling democracy to a leading member of the European Union. At the same time, these tumultuous transformations were often reflected on screen. However, so too were many timeless stories of life, love and determination. Schwartz divides his guide in two parts. The first reviews 71 groundbreaking, classic films. The section is arranged chronologically with separate chapters and brief introductions for each decade. A second section presents 61 other notable Spanish films. The division seems a little arbitrary, since the author has almost as much to say about the second group as the first. Each entry provides Spanish and English titles, director, production credits, cast and notes of availability on DVD or VHS. The commentary reviews the background, plot, themes and stylistic features of each film. Significant innovations are noted and appraisals of direction and acting frequently reference the artists’ other films. Appendices list Goya, Cinema Writer Circle and Academy Award winners and nominees. A comparison of the award lists reveals how highly subjective the process of identifying great films can be. Many award winners, much less nominees, do not make Schwartz’s list. It is clear from his selection and his commentary that he has a great admiration for Carlos Saura, Fernando Trueba and Manuel Gutiérrez Aragon, but he also illuminates the success of newer talents like Julio Medem, Pedro Almodóvar and Vicente Aranda. All told, the works of 58 directors are reviewed. In so doing, Schwartz provides an excellent viewing and selection guide for Spanish film.