Berta's Motives

Berta's Motives
Film poster
SpanishLos motivos de Berta
Directed byJosé Luis Guerín
Written byJosé Luis Guerín
Starring
CinematographyGerardo Gormezano
Edited byJosé Luis Guerín
Music byFranz Schubert
Release dates
  • September 1984 (1984-09) (Zinemaldia)
  • 13 February 1985 (1985-02-13) (Spain)
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

Berta's Motives (Spanish: Los motivos de Berta)[1] is a 1984 Spanish black and white film written and directed by José Luis Guerín (in his feature film debut). It stars Silvia Gracia, Arielle Dombasle, Iñaki Aierra, and Rafael Díaz.

Plot

Taking place in the fictional village of Sotoluego, the plot focus on the maturing of 13-year-old Berta. The monotonous life of the village is upended by the arrival of extravagant Demetrio and the settling of a film crew.[2]

Cast

Production

The film boasted a budget of around 10 million ₧.[7] It was shot in Melque de Cercos, province of Segovia.[8][9]

Release

The film had a couple of press screenings on 9 March 1984 at Madrid's Cines Griffith.[10] It was presented in the 'Cine Español' section of the 32nd San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 1984.[11] It also made it to the programme of the 1984 Mostra de València [es][12] and to the non-competitive slate of the 35th Berlin International Film Festival (February 1985).[13] It had a commercial release in Barcelona on 13 February 1985.[14][13] Distribution issues notwithstanding, the film earned "unanimous enthusiasm" from the critics.[15]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
1986
 30th Sant Jordi Awards Best Spanish Film Won [16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Hivnor, Mary (1990). "The Baroque Equation in Spanish Films". Partisan Review. 17 (4): 128.
  2. ^ Mayer 2010, p. 52–53.
  3. ^ a b c d e Mayer 2010, p. 52.
  4. ^ a b Mayer 2010, p. 53.
  5. ^ Aldarondo, Ricardo (1992). "Los motivos de Berta" (PDF). Nosferatu. Revista de Cine (9).
  6. ^ Sardá, Juan (27 March 2016). "María Botto: 'Nuestro cine quedará más allá de las tonterías que digan los políticos'". Yodona – via El Mundo.
  7. ^ Torres, Sara (1992). "Los motivos de Guerín" (PDF). Nosferatu. Revista de Cine (9): 45.
  8. ^ Broullón-Lozano 2015, p. 395.
  9. ^ García Santa Cecilia, Carlos (11 July 1983). "Arielle Dombasle protagoniza 'Los motivos de Berta', de José Luis Guerín". El País.
  10. ^ Broullón-Lozano, Manuel A. (2015). "Spain's TV & Cinema: una aproximación transatlántica". III Congreso Internacional Historia, arte y literatura en el cine en español y portugués: hibridaciones, transformaciones y nuevos espacios narrativos: 24, 25 y 26 de junio 2015 (PDF). Vol. 1. p. 391. ISBN 978-84-606-8174-8.
  11. ^ Galán, Diego (20 September 1984). "El día de la libertad de Tasio". El País.
  12. ^ Muñoz, Manuel (3 October 1984). "La Mostra de Cine Mediterrani acoge la película 'Los motivos de Berta'". El País.
  13. ^ a b Galán, Diego (20 February 1985). "Aplausos para 'Los motivos de Berta', de José Luis Guerín, en el festival de Berlín". El País.
  14. ^ Mayer, Myriam (2010). "Le temps des fantômes. Approche de l'œuvre cinématographique de José Luis Guerin". Sciences de l’Homme et Société. Aix-Marseille Université (AMU). p. 355.
  15. ^ Torres 1992, p. 45.
  16. ^ "'Los motivos de Berta', premio Sant Jordi de Cinematografía". El País. 9 January 1986.