Surcos
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| Surcos | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | José Antonio Nieves Conde |
| Written by | Story: Eugenio Montes Screenplay: José Antonio Nieves Conde Gonzalo Torrente Ballester Natividad Zaro |
| Starring | Luis Peña María Asquerino |
| Music by | Jesús García Leoz |
| Cinematography | Sebastián Perera |
| Editing by | Margarita de Ochoa |
| Release date(s) | October 26, 1951 (Spain) |
| Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | Spain |
| Language | Spanish |
| IMDb profile | |
Surcos (English informal title: Furrows) (1951) is a Spanish film directed by José Antonio Nieves Conde. The picture was written by Eugenio Montes, José Antonio Nieves Conde, Gonzalo Torrente Ballester, and Natividad Zaro.[1]
The film tells of an unsettling portrait of postwar Madrid when dictator Francisco Franco was in power.
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[edit] Plot
Surcos follows the struggles of a Spanish family as it emigrates from the country to Madrid circa 1950.
Facing difficulties in finding housing and employment, several family members turn to illegal or immoral activities in order to make ends meet, and the traditional family structure disintegrates.
[edit] Background
Surcos is considered one of the very few - if not the only - Spanish neo-realist films from the era when the style was being created and popularized in Italy. The picture only escaped censorship because José María García Escudero, Spain's Chief of Cinematography, was progressive enough to value the film for its artistic merit.[2]
The film dealt with issues virtually unseen during Franco's rule, including rural immigration into the cities, poverty, prostitution, unemployment, and class conflicts. Surcos is a view of the contradictions found in Franco's regime. The Catholic Church considered the film "deeply dangerous," yet political observers labeled the drama of "national interest." The film was not released until its controversial ending was removed.[3]
[edit] Cast
- Luis Peña as El Mellao
- María Asquerino as Pili
- Francisco Arenzana as Pepe
- Marisa de Leza as Tonia
- Ricardo Lucía as Manolo Pérez
- José Prada as Manuel Pérez
- Félix Dafauce as Don Roque, "el Chamberlain"
- María Francés as La madre
[edit] Awards
Wins
- Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain: CEC Award; Best Film; Best Supporting Actor, Félix Dafauce; Best Supporting Actress, Marisa de Leza; 1953.
- National Syndicate of Spectacle, Spain: 3rd place Prize of the National Syndicate of Spectacle; 1953.
Nominations
- Cannes Film Festival: Grand Prize of the Festival; José Antonio Nieves Conde; 1952.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Surcos at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Brennan, Sandra. José Antonio Nieves-Conde at Allmovie.
- ^ Pragda. Spanish Film Club, 02 Bedford Avenue #136 Brooklyn, NY 11211, USA. Last accessed: December 31, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Surcos at the Internet Movie Database.
- Surcos at Film Affinity (Spanish).
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