Carlos Saura, ¡Ay Carmela! (1990) – The Songs of the Spanish Civil War
“Eyes on Spain” Film Screening Series
The Songs of the Spanish Civil War, ca. 15’
music performance by the Choir Soharóza
Soharóza is an experimental vocal ensemble, led by Dóra Halas, which has been playing with sounds, different music and noises, the human body and space since 2008, creating unconventional performances that cannot be classified by genre. “Accompanying the exhibition, Soharóza has put together a full evening of music with unique arrangements of songs from the Spanish Civil War. The interesting thing about the songs is that the volunteer fighters from all over the world brought songs from their own culture and wrote new lyrics to their melodies. This is how a song from a 16th-century German peasant uprising or the song Jarama Valley, also performed by Woody Guthrie from the US, came into the repertoire. But our favorite is the oratorio arrangement of the Spanish anarchist anthem.”
¡Ay Carmela! (1990)
Comedy-drama, directed by Carlos Saura, 102’
Spanish with English subtitles
Paulino and Carmela are husband and wife, troubadours touring the countryside during the Spanish Civil War. They are Republicans, and with their mute assistant, Gustavete, they journey into rebel territory by mistake. They are arrested, fear a firing squad, and receive a reprieve from an Italian Fascist commander who loves the theatre. He arranges a performance for his troops, bargaining with Paulino to stage a burlesque of the republic in exchange for the actors' freedom. Will the fiery and patriotic Carmela consent?
Watch the trailer here.
Supported by the Spanish Embassy in Budapest.
Admission free. Seating is first-come first-served basis.
The film is screened in Spanish with English subtitles.