Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

One of the wrost movies I have ever seen

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

maybe, its basic virtue is the realistic portrait of Spanish Civil War. bitter, ironic, cruel and precise. and not surprising. because it is a film about freedom against totalitarian regime. a film about the way to escape from the cage of history. a film about force of art. and about sacrifice. and about the choice who defines yourself. I saw twice this special film. and each time as discovered it as a kind of gem. for the truths reflected with force. for the music. for the performances. and, sure, for the strange form of hope. so, the war. and the fight to survive.

A simple story, beautifully enacted. A trio of enthusiastic, if not over-talented performers tries to make a living in the midst of the Spanish Civil War, which is increasingly being won by Franco's Nationalists. After a rousing success entertaining a group of Loyalist fighters, the weary actors take a wrong turn on a foggy road and end up in Nationalist controlled territory, where they do their best to convince the Italian and Spanish officers that they are simply performers without politics.Impresario Paulino, husband of star Carmela, befriends an Italian officer with theatrical ambitions, and the actors are told to put on a show for the Nationalist troops. Carmela hates the idea, but loves her husband and the mute young man they have adopted, Gustavete, so she agrees to give it her best effort. Things don't work out quite as planned, however. Some background on the Spanish Civil War would help many viewers get more out of the movie, though explanatory titles are provided. Visually, the film is crammed with authentic details, such as home-made armored cars used by the Republican militias, recruiting posters, Anarchist and Republican flags, Moorish troops aiding the Spanish Nationalists, and even Generalisimo Franco himself attending the performance. The actors who play the trio of performers are admirably cast, especially Carmen Maura as Carmela. Her energy and zest during passionate, romantic songs and dances are wonderful to see. Her deep compassion for others is frequently on display, as in the maternal attitude she takes toward the unofficial son she and Paulino have taken under their wing, and her grief over the certain fate of the Polish prisoners from the International Brigades. Her humor and strong will in the face of terrifyingly unpredictable situations help keep the other two going. Andres Pajares plays the quick-witted Paulino, a former seminarian who has taken up musical comedy instead of the priesthood. His ability to size up a situation and get on the good side of dangerous people helps the little troupe to survive , but at some cost to his dignity. Paulino is a survivor who will do what it takes to get through a war, and his main survival technique is the attitude of being a performer, whether you like any particular audience or not. Ay, Carmela is a very engaging film that is at times quite amusing, but ultimately heart-breaking. This film deserves to be released on a Region 1 DVD that could be made available for a wider audience to appreciate its moving and memorable story.

I was only able to watch this beautiful movie recently, since the English subtitles appeared on the Internet. Pity it took someone so long to translate it. The film deals with the eternal dilemma of artists, torn apart between the urge to survive and to upheld some moral standards, in civil wars or during the enemy occupation. Under the skillful direction of Carlos Saura, all the actors performed superbly. The music is authentic and contemporary and sounds very convincing. After too many wars, the artist that entertained the enemy were often judged overly harshly. Not everybody is made to be a hero, and hunger is a very potent stimulant. The film is absolutely a must, but not for Fascist lovers, of course.

Saura's superb display of a well-chosen fit between music and the story that is going on "behind the curtains". He is a master on that. Kind of idealistic view of the Spanish Civil War, as a result of the political moment of "institutional silent" when democracy is possible in Spain again. (90')He took the amazing and just genial play by Sinisterra and make it a new piece of art. Makes you laugh and cry..although the vision of Carmela as the representation of "la republic" inserts women in a stereotyped context of the "abstraction" that does not let her be part of the struggle for democracy, hand by hand with human kind..men in this case.. highly recommended, but also should be followed by the reading of the theater play.