Elisa, vida mía

1977 Spanish film

21 April 1977 (1977-04-21) (Spain)
11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) (New York City)

Running time

125 minutesCountrySpainLanguageSpanish

Elisa, Vida mía is a 1977 Spanish drama film written and directed by Carlos Saura. The film stars Saura's long-term companion and frequent collaborator, Geraldine Chaplin. She stars alongside Fernando Rey, who won the Best Actor award at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival for his performance.^[1]

Plot

On a secluded farmhouse in Castile and León, Luis is reunited with his estranged daughter, Elisa, after a 20-year separation. On the farmhouse, Luis writes what sometimes appears to be both an autobiography and a novel. The book is played out with memories of the past, such as when Luis walked out on his family and is mixed with fantasies about Elisa's adult life and her failed marriage.^[2]

Cast

Geraldine Chaplin as Elisa Santamaria/mother of Elisa
Fernando Rey as Luis
Ana Torrent as Elisa as child
Norman Briski as Antonio
Arantxa Escamilla as Niña Isabel
Jacobo Escamillaa as Niño
Francisco Guijar as Médico
Joaquín Hinojosa as Julián
Isabel Mestres

Reception

Vincent Canby of The New York Times praised Chaplin and Rey; "The main reasons to see the film are the two leading performances. Mr. Rey is always an interesting presence, and Miss. CAs in all of her Saura films, Chaplin reveals qualities of feeling, control and beauty that no other directors have ever found."^[2]

Saura was nominated for the Palme d'Or for the film, and won Best Director at Spain's Cinema Writers Circle Awards.^[3]

References

^ "Festival de Cannes: Elisa, vida mía". festival-cannes.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
^ ^a ^b Canby, Vincent. Film: "Elisa, Vida Mia", pp. 8. The New York Times. 11 March 1983. Retrieved on 30 July 2011
^ Awards for Elisa, vida mia Retrieved on 30 July