Carlos Saura

Spanish director, screenwriter, film teacher, writer and photographer CARLOS SAURA shot his first 16 mm films already in the 1950s. His first feature Los Golfos (1962) created controversy and received praise for its portrayal of juvenile delinquency. It didn’t take long for Saura to become known as one of the most skilful narrators of the times of Franco and the political and moral censorship of the dictator’s era.


La Caza (1966) won him the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 16th Berlin International Film Festival and meant for him an international breakthrough. Saura made nine films altogether with Geraldine Chaplin, including the beloved childhood portrayal Raising Ravens (1976) and Elisa, vida mía (1977), the family drama examining an intensive father-daughter relationship, both which will be screened at Sodankylä. The festival programme also includes Blood Wedding (1981), Lorca’s play turned into dance interpretation; dream-like and seductive Carmen (1983); and graceful, emotional dance and documentary film Flamenco (1995).


One of the masters of Spanish cinema is expected to bring a hefty suitcase full of stories to the north; it’s worth mentioning that Saura was a friend of Luis Buñuel and that Charles Chaplin himself once called Saura “a poet” after seeing one of his films.