Contemporary Spanish Film

Course Information

Program(s):

Madrid - Language & Area Studies

Discipline(s):

Film Studies

Terms offered:

Fall, Spring

Credits:

Language of instruction:

Spanish

Contact Hours:

Prerequisites:

General knowledge of Spanish history and culture in the XX century. Elementary knowledge of audiovisual narration, aesthetics and cinematographical analysis. General understanding of the Spanish language is required in order to watch the films and understand them, as there are not many productions available edited with subtitles.

Description:

The course offers the students a panoramic view of the most representative Spanish films from a historical point of view, with special emphasis on the social, political, artistic and cultural context. As well as the specific contents of the period with regards to authors, films and genre, students will be taught to understand the cinema phenomenon and its introduction into contemporary Spanish society and therefore includes the social and cultural backdrop (cinema policy, subject matter, filming, production and showing …). The period covered is from 1960 to 2012 and, in general terms, is intended as an introduction to Spanish film.

Attendance policy:

Attendance is mandatory for all IES Abroad classes, including course-related excursions. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than two classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.

Learning outcomes:

The objective of this course is to ensure that by the end of it, the students know and understand Spanish films from 1960 to the present day, emphasising the role of the State in the development of Spanish film, in addition to the action of the censors from a political, moral, religious, economic and creative point of view.

The texts that the students have to read will allow them to study in depth, analyse and debate the questions posed in the classroom. The student will have the opportunity to express him/herself in front of the rest of the class and discuss with the instructor any doubts arising from the topics.

Method of presentation:

At each session, the instructor will provide an introduction to the historical, social and cultural context and will use films from each of the periods analysed in order to facilitate a better understanding of film production. The showing of the films will help students understand how narration takes place in Spanish films and the subjects dealt with in Spanish film.

Student participation is essential in order to see to what extent they can understand films from another country. The students will have to read the general text provided by the instructor beforehand in order to have the precise information they need on the subject matter, which will enable them to join in spontaneously with their comments, and respond to suggestions and ideas transmitted in class.

The sessions will be continuous, with no breaks; after the presentation, the selected film will be shown. After they have seen it, the students will discuss what they have seen and the instructor will add to the comments made.

Required work and form of assessment:

The overall mark will be awarded as per the following percentages:

Written partial exam (30%): The students will answer a general topic question related to the matters discussed in class and the films included in the first half of the programme.
Attendance and participation in class (10%): Punctuality and attendance are important. Students are reminded that only one unjustified absence is permitted (3 hours of class) and that, as of the second hour, the partial and final marks will be docked proportionally.
Commentaries on the compulsory reading items (30%): One general text and four articles. The instructor will, as established in the programme, indicate which texts are to be read by the students and how the précis is to be made.
Final written exam (40%): The exam will cover the films seen and those seen by the students on their own, as well as the topics discussed and debated in class.

Assessment will take into account the following aspects:

Attendance, attention and participation in class.
Capacity to understand the subjects broached.
Analysis of the fragments and films shown.
Critical appraisal of the recommended readings.
Written work set by the instructor.
Other complementary films watched.

content:

Session	Content	Required Readings
Week 1	Presentation of the course: objectives, methodology, basic concepts and assessment. Artistic, social, industrial and cultural dimension of Spanish film. Selection of introductory images: 1896-1960.	“Brief history of Spanish film” (located in Moodle). Compulsory reading for class commentary each day. This text contains a brief summary of what the students have to learn throughout the course.
Week 2	Spanish films of the sixties I : Viridiana (1961), by Luis Buñuel.	Students are to also watch one of these films (DVD available from the IES Abroad Office): Plácido (1961), by Luis García Berlanga; Bienvenido, Mr. Marshall (1961), by Luis García Berlanga; Atraco a las tres (1962), by José María Forqué.
Week 3	Spanish films of the sixties II: El verdugo (1963), by Luis García Berlanga.	Students are also to watch one of these films (DVD available from the IES Abroad Office): La Caza (1965), by Carlos Saura; El extraño viaje (1964), by Fernando Fernán Gómez; Tristana (1969), by Luis Buñuel. Reading of the text “Por un cine español”, by Santiago Sánchez (found in Moodle). 2-page essay based on this text.
Week 4	Spanish film during the political transition I: El espíritu de la colmena (1973), by Víctor Erice.	Students are to also watch one of these films (DVD available from the IES Abroad Office): Mi querida señorita (1971), by Jaime de Armiñán; No desearás al vecino del 5º (1970), by Ramón Fernández; Queridísimos verdugos (1973), by Basilio Martín Patino.
Week 5	Spanish film during the political transition II: Pascual Duarte (1976), by Ricardo Franco.	Students are also to watch one of these films (DVD available from IES Secretariate): Furtivos (1975), by José Luis Borau; El pícaro (1974), by Fernando Fernán Gómez; Operación Ogro (1979), by Guillo Pontecorvo. “¿Dónde está el enemigo del cine español?” (located in Moodle). 2-page essay based on this text.
Week 6	Spanish film in the eighties I: Opera prima (1980), by Fernando Trueba.	Students are also to watch one of these films (DVD available from the IES Abroad Office): Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (1987), by Pedro Almodóvar; El crack (1980), by José Luis Garci; Demonios en el jardín (1982), by Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón
Week 7	Spanish film in the eighties II: Los santos inocentes (1984), by Mario Camus.	Students are also to watch one of these films (DVD available from the IES Abroad Office): La colmena (1982), by Mario Camus; El viaje a ninguna parte (1986), by Fernando Fernán Gómez. “La fragilidad comunicativa del cine español” (located in Moodle). 2-page based on this text.
Week 8	The generation of the nineties I: Tesis (1996), by Alejandro Amenábar.	Students are also to watch one of these films (DVD available from IES Secretariate): El día de la bestia (1995), by Alex de la Iglesia; La buena estrella (1997), by Ricardo Franco; Cuando vuelvas a mi lado (1999), by Gracia Querejeta.
Week 9	The generation of the nineties II: La niña de tus ojos (1998), by Fernando Trueba (OVwS).	Students are also to watch one of these films (DVD available from the IES Abroad Office): Hola, estás sola? (1995), by Iciar Bollain; Todo sobre mi madre (1999), by Pedro Almodóvar. “La producción de cine en España en la década de los 90” (placed in Moodle). 2-page based on this text.
Week 10	Spanish film today I: La caja 507 (2002), by Enrique Urbizu.	Students are also to watch one of these films (DVD available from the IES Abroad Office): El bola (2000), by Achero Mañas; Te doy mis ojos (2003), by Iciar Bollaín; En construcción (2001), by José Luis Guerín.
Week 11	Spanish film today II: La caja Kovak (2006), by Daniel Monzón (OVwS).	Students are also to watch one of these films (DVD available from the IES Abroad Office): Un franco, 14 pesetas (2005), by Carlos Iglesias; Azul oscuro casi negro (2006), by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo.

Required readings:

García Fernández, Emilio C.: Breve historia del cine español (1896-2011). Reference text for the course which the instructor will place on the virtual campus. Consult and read chapter by chapter at (ISSN: 1989-8584)
Sánchez González, Santiago: “Por un cine español”. Revista Área Abierta. Revistas Científicas Complutenses. Número 18 (2007). ISSN: 1578-8393.
García Fernández, Emilio C.: “La influencia del Estado en la cinematografía española” Revista Área Abierta. Revistas Científicas Complutenses. Número 15 (2006). ISSN: 1578-8393
García Fernández, Emilio C.: “¿Dónde está el enemigo del cine español?”, en Alonso García, Luis (Coord.): Once miradas sobre la crisis y el cine español. Madrid. Ocho y Medio. 2003. ISBN: 84-95839-43-1. (Article)
García Fernández, Emilio C.: “La fragilidad comunicativa del cine español”. V Foro de Investigación en Comunicación. “La Comunicación: nuevos discursos y perspectivas”. Madrid. 24 de noviembre de 2003. ISBN: 84-88365-15-2. (Discourse).
García Fernández, Emilio C.: “La producción de cine en España en la década de los 90”. VII ciclo de Otoño de Comunicación. Madrid. 10 de diciembre de 2003. ISBN: 84-608-0176-4. (Discourse).

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