Carlos Saura facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carlos Saura
Saura in 2017
Born	Carlos Saura Atarés (1932-01-04)4 January 1932 Huesca, Spain
Died	10 February 2023(2023-02-10) (aged 91) Collado Mediano, Spain
Occupation	Film director, screenwriter, photographer
Years active	1955–2023
Notable work	Los golfos The Hunt Peppermint Frappé Honeycomb Ana and the Wolves Cousin Angelica Cría Cuervos Elisa, vida mía Faster, Faster Carmen Tango Goya in Bordeaux
Spouse(s)	Adela Medrano Mercedes Pérez Eulàlia Ramon ​ (m. 2006)​
Partner(s)	Geraldine Chaplin (1967–1979)
Children	7
Relatives	Antonio Saura (brother)

Carlos Saura Atarés (born January 4, 1932 – died February 10, 2023) was a famous Spanish film director, photographer, and writer. Many people consider him one of Spain's most important filmmakers, alongside Luis Buñuel and Pedro Almodóvar. He had a very long and successful career that lasted over 50 years. His movies won many awards from around the world.

Saura started making short documentary films in 1955. He became well-known internationally when his first full-length movie was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 1960. At first, he made films that showed real life, like documentaries. But he soon started making movies with hidden meanings and symbols. This helped him get around the strict rules of the Spanish government at the time.

In 1966, his film The Hunt won the Silver Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival. This made him famous worldwide. In the years that followed, he became known for making movies that explored how people felt and reacted to difficult political situations.

By the 1970s, Saura was the most famous filmmaker in Spain. His movies often used clever storytelling methods and sometimes caused debate. He won special awards at Cannes for Cousin Angelica (1973) and Cría Cuervos (1975). In 1979, his film Mama Turns 100 was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

In the 1980s, Saura became famous for his "Flamenco trilogy." These films were Blood Wedding, Carmen, and El amor brujo. In these movies, he mixed exciting stories with amazing flamenco dance. His films continued to win many awards around the world. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film twice more, for Carmen (1983) and Tango (1998). His movies were known for blending reality with imagination, and the past with the present. In the late 1900s, Saura focused on films that brought together music, dance, and visuals.

Carlos Saura's Early Life

Carlos Saura was born in Huesca, Spain, on January 4, 1932. His father, Antonio Saura Pacheco, was a lawyer and worked for the government. His mother, Fermina Atarés Torrente, was a talented piano player. Carlos was the second of four children. His older brother, Antonio Saura, became a famous painter. Carlos and his siblings received a very open-minded education from their parents.

Because his father worked for the government, the Saura family moved often. They lived in Barcelona, Valencia, and later in Madrid. Carlos's childhood was greatly affected by the Spanish Civil War. During this war, two sides fought against each other in Spain.

Saura remembered his childhood during the war very clearly. He later used some of these memories in his films. He remembered the games he played and the songs he sang. But he also remembered darker things, like bombings, hunger, and death. After the war ended, Carlos was sent to live with his grandmother and aunts in Huesca. He said these relatives were very religious and had different ideas than his parents. After studying engineering, he decided to work in the film industry, following advice from his brother Antonio.

Carlos Saura's Film Career

From 1957 to 1958, Saura made his first film, Cuenca. In 1962, his film Los Golfos was praised for showing the problems of young people in poor areas of Madrid. Four years later, in 1966, he won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 16th Berlin International Film Festival for his film La caza. In 1967, his movie Peppermint Frappé also won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 18th Berlin International Film Festival. He won the top award, the Golden Bear, in 1981 at the 31st Berlin International Film Festival for his film Deprisa, Deprisa.

His films La prima Angélica (Cousin Angélica) from 1973 and Cría cuervos (Raise Ravens) from 1975 both won special jury prizes at the Cannes Film Festival. His film Mamá cumple 100 años (Mom is celebrating her 100 years) was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1980.

Saura later became very well-known for movies that featured flamenco and other traditional Spanish dances. His "Flamenco Trilogy" from the 1980s included Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding), Carmen, and El amor brujo. These films often featured the famous Spanish flamenco dancer Cristina Hoyos. He later made more dance films like Flamenco (1995), Tango (1998), and Fados (2007).

His 1989 film La noche oscura was shown at the 39th Berlin International Film Festival.

Saura believed his best film was about the famous surrealist artist Luis Buñuel. He once said about Buñuel y la mesa del rey Salomón (Buñuel and the table of King Solomon - 2001): “That’s the greatest film I’ve ever made. I’m sure Buñuel would have loved this film.”

In 1990, he won the Goya Award for best director and best script for ¡Ay, Carmela!. He was chosen to direct the official film for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, called Marathon (1993).

Carlos Saura received special lifetime achievement awards at film festivals in Mumbai (2008) and Kerala (2013). These awards celebrated his long and important career in filmmaking.

Carlos Saura's Personal Life and Death

Carlos Saura was married three times. His first wife was Adela Medrano, and they had two sons, Carlos and Antonio. Later, he married Mercedes Pérez in 1982, and they had three sons: Manuel, Adrián, and Diego. Between these marriages, he had a son named Shane with actress Geraldine Chaplin. He also had a daughter named Anna with his third wife, actress Eulàlia Ramon. They married in 2006. In his later years, his daughter Anna worked as his agent and helped produce his films.

Saura loved photography and had a collection of over 600 cameras. His photographs were shown in exhibitions many times. He started taking pictures when he was eight years old and even built his own camera. He later became the official photographer for the Granada Film Festival.

Saura was a close friend of another famous filmmaker from his region, Luis Buñuel. They met at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival and remained friends.

Carlos Saura lived in Collado Mediano, Spain, from the early 1980s.

He passed away from breathing problems at his home on February 10, 2023, at the age of 91. He was supposed to receive a special Honorary Goya Award the very next day at the 37th Goya Awards, celebrating his lifetime of work.

Carlos Saura's Films

Feature Films

Short Films

Documentaries

Feature Films

Short Films

Major Awards and Nominations

Carlos Saura won many important awards throughout his career. Here are some of the most notable ones:

Academy Awards

• 1980 - Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film - Mamá cumple 100 años.
• 1984 - Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film - Carmen.
• 1999 - Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film - Tango.

BAFTA Award

• 1983 - Won: BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language Film - Carmen.

Berlin Film Festival

• 1966 - Won: Silver Bear for Best Director for La caza.
• 1968 - Won: Silver Bear for Best Director for Peppermint Frappé.
• 1981 - Won: Golden Bear (the top prize) for Deprisa, deprisa.

Cannes Film Festival

• 1974 - Won: Jury Prize for La prima Angélica.
• 1976 - Won: Grand Prix of the Jury for Cría cuervos....
• 1983 - Won: Technical Grand Prize and Award for Best Artistic Contribution for Carmen.

European Film Awards

• 2004 - Won: Lifetime Achievement Award.

Goya Awards

• 1991 - Won: Goya Award for Best Director and Goya Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for ¡Ay, Carmela!.
• 2022 - Won: Honorary Goya Award (a special award for his life's work).

Montréal World Film Festival

• 1995 - Won: Grand Prix Special des Amériques (for his amazing contribution to cinema).
• 1997 - Won: Best Director for Pajarico.
• 1999 - Won: Prize of the Ecumenical Jury and Best Artistic Contribution for Goya en Burdeos.

Images for kids

• 

  Saura in 2002.

See also

In Spanish: Carlos Saura para niños