Movies to get you in the mood for Spain!
Ready to start and savor your Spanish Holiday? Here are a couple of movies that I love for different reasons but all because they express something about Spain I love and have learned to love after living here for almost 10 years.
Whether it\’s the gorgeous landscapes you\’re looking for, it\’s spicy cultural traditions, or it\’s sassy sexy Spanish stereotypes… I think we have you covered.
Let\’s start with a classic story of the legend El Cid. It contains some history of Spain\’s fight with the Moors and medieval landscapes from the North of Spain. And of course Charleston Heston and the beautiful Sophia Loren.
Next is The Pide And The Passion. Again with Sophia Loren and this time with 2 other famous actors at the time, Frank Sinatra and Gary Copper. This film contains a bullfight and in this clip the lovely Sophia in a seductive Flamenco dance. Great costumes that are similar to the region.
The next is called Pandora and the Flying Dutchman. It is set in the Catalan Port of Esperanza in the 1930s. Pandora is a nightclub singer who is a glamorous expat living in a foreign land, played by Eva Gardner.
It is full of stereotypical images of Spain again, including flamenco dancers, bullfighters and the romantic coast of Spain.
Eva Gardener was a HUGE fan of Spain in her prime of Stardom. She lived here off and on, had bullfighting boyfriends all about the time when she was on and off again with Frank Sintra. Visually fun to watch.
For a more fun contemporary film, there is Vicky Christian Barcelona. It is a fun one… as it captures the spirit of 2 young Americans traveling abroad for the first time. Spanish wine, music, and sunshine as they stroll along the Las Ramblas in Barcelona.
One is swept away by an exotic Spanish painter who then later gets back with his wild and vivacious girlfriend. Fun and loads of Barcelona!
Next is a film I personally love after living in Seville Spain for 2 years! It captures so well the Spanish women and relationship I experienced. Love Penelope Cruz in it. She is a strong-willed woman trying to keep her family & world together. It is a dark lite/comedy with so many amazing colorful characters based on the southern part of Spain. Directed by the Oscar Winning Spanish Director, Almodovar
( It is in Spanish but has English Subtitles. Get a good copy unlike this trailer…it is really worth seeing. )
Finally, this is a sweet film The Way …about a man Martin Sheen trying to reconnect with his dead son by following the same route he did upon his death along the famous Camino De Santiago in the North of Spain.
He meets others along the way from other parts of the world travel this same path to learn more about themselves. It is more of a compelling journey story with the lovely open landscape in the North of Spain. As I have done part of the Camino I found it representation pretty close to my experience.
I hope you enjoy and it makes you want to visit this lovely country.
All the best
Kathy
Credit for the feature photo
