The Anonymous Queen

The Anonymous Queen
Theatrical release poster
SpanishLa reina anónima
Directed byGonzalo Suárez
Screenplay byGonzalo Suárez
Starring
CinematographyCarlos Suárez
Edited byPablo del Amo
Music byMario de Benito
Production
companies
  • Ditirambo Films
  • Lola Films
Distributed byUnited International Pictures
Release dates
  • September 1992 (1992-09) (Zinemaldia)
  • 16 October 1992 (1992-10-16) (Spain)
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

The Anonymous Queen (Spanish: La reina anónima)[1] is a 1992 Spanish fantasy drama film directed by Gonzalo Suárez starring Carmen Maura and Marisa Paredes.

Plot

Upon meeting a strange woman claiming to be her neighbor, the anodine life of housewife Ana Luz takes a wild turn,[2] experiencing a series of surrealist and crazy situations that she is unable to control,[3] with a further set of bizarre characters breaking into her residence.[4]

Cast

Production

The screenplay was penned by Gonzalo Suárez.[3] Produced by Ditirambo Films and Lola Films,[6] the film boasted a 250 million ₧ budget.[3] Filming began on 25 May 1992.[3] Regarding the labelling of his film, Suárez stated that he was "not interested in discussing what La reina anónima is. I usually say it is a tragedy disguised as a comedy, or a psychological drama. But in the end they are nothing more than jests".[7]

Release

The film screened in the Golden Shell competition of the 40th San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 1992.[8][7] It was released theatrically in Spain on 16 October 1992.[9]

Reception

Ángel Fernández-Santos of El País assessed that despite the film boasting certain assets such as "expressionist sets", "excellent craft on the part of the cast", and "a dense and brilliant literary base", it has "little, if any, sense of ellipsis", thus damaging the whole.[10]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
1994
 7th Goya Awards Best Costume Design Yvonne Blake Nominated [11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mira, Alberto (2010). The A to Z of Spanish Cinema. Lanham: The Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 286. ISBN 978-0-8108-7622-4.
  2. ^ "Carmen Maura es la actriz del mes de julio en 8madrid TV". Audiovisual451. 2 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Valenzuela, Regina (10 June 1992). "Gonzalo Suárez cambia el misticismo por el vodevil". El País.
  4. ^ Benavent 2000, p. 496.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Benavent 2000, p. 495.
  6. ^ Cuartas, Javier (16 November 1992). "Gonzalo Suárez inicia el rodaje de 'El detective y la muerte'". El País.
  7. ^ a b Torreiro, Casimiro (16 October 2022). "Gonzalo Suárez: "No me interesa discutir qué es mi película"". El País.
  8. ^ Barbería, José Luis (16 September 1992). "El Festival de San Sebastián acentúa este año su compromiso con el cine independiente". El País.
  9. ^ Benavent, Francisco María (2000). Cine español de los 90. Diccionario de películas, directores y temático. Bilbao: Ediciones Mensajero. pp. 495–496. ISBN 84-271-2326-4.
  10. ^ Fernández-Santos, Ángel (22 September 1992). "Gonzalo Suárez no logra en 'La reina anónima' convertir una pesadilla en comedia". El País.
  11. ^ Viaje al cine español. 25 años de los Premios Goya (PDF), Lunwerg, 2011, p. 275, ISBN 978-84-9785-791-8