Víctor Erice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Víctor Erice
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Víctor Erice Aras
30 June 1940 |
| Alma mater | University of Madrid |
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| Years active | 1961–present |
Víctor Erice Aras, born on June 30, 1940, is a famous Spanish film director. He is well-known for his first two movies, The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) and El Sur (1983). Many people think The Spirit of the Beehive is one of the best Spanish films ever made.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Víctor Erice was born in Karrantza, a town in Biscay, Spain. He went to the University of Madrid. There, he studied subjects like law, political science, and economics. In 1963, he also went to a special school for filmmaking. This school was called the Escuela Oficial de Cinematografia. He studied how to direct movies there.
Víctor Erice's Film Career
Before making his own full-length movies, Erice wrote about films. He wrote reviews and articles for a Spanish film magazine called Nuestro Cine. He also made several short films.
First Feature Films
His first major movie was The Spirit of the Beehive, released in 1973. This film showed what life was like in rural Spain during the 1940s. This was a time when Spain was under the rule of a leader named Francisco Franco. Erice used a lot of symbols in the movie to show how people lived and felt during that period. Setting the movie in 1940 was a brave choice. The film was not made to support Franco's government.
Ten years later, in 1983, Erice wrote and directed El Sur. This movie was based on a story by Adelaida García Morales. It is also a highly respected film. However, the movie's producer only allowed him to film about two-thirds of the story.
Later Works and Recognition
His third main movie, The Quince Tree Sun (1992), is a documentary. It is about a painter named Antonio López García. This film won two important awards at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival. These were the Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize.
Erice was also part of the jury at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival in May. This means he helped decide which films won awards. In 2014, he received a special award. The Locarno Film Festival gave him a Golden Leopard award for his lifetime achievements in film.
In 2022, after thirty years, a new film project by Erice was announced. This movie, called Cerrar los ojos, premiered in 2023. It was shown at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and received very good reviews.
Film Style and Impact
Víctor Erice is known for his unique filmmaking style. Critics like Geoff Andrew have praised his work. They say his films are "masterly." Even though he has only made a few major films, they are very powerful. These include The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), El Sur (1983), Dream of Light (1992), and Close Your Eyes (2023 film).
Film critic Tony Rayns described The Spirit of the Beehive as a "haunting mood piece." He noted that it uses sounds and images to create its magic, rather than a complex plot. People have also said that in El Sur, Erice creates images like paintings. He uses slow changes and light to make scenes feel still or full of movement.
Influence on Other Filmmakers
Víctor Erice's movies have inspired many other directors. Filmmakers like Carla Simón, Carlos Vermut, Alejandro Amenábar, and Guillermo del Toro have been influenced by his work.
Erice's way of showing children dreaming and being drawn to fantasy worlds has especially inspired Guillermo del Toro. This can be seen in del Toro's films, such as The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth. These movies often feature children in difficult times, exploring magical worlds.
Views on World Events
In December 2023, Víctor Erice joined many other filmmakers. He signed an open letter published in a newspaper called Libération. This letter asked for a ceasefire and an end to the killing of people in the Gaza Strip. It also asked for help to reach people in Gaza and for hostages to be released.
Filmography
Feature Films Directed by Erice
| Year | Film | Credited as | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Producer | |||
| 1967 | El próximo otoño | No | Yes | No | |
| 1968 | Oscuros sueños de agosto | No | Yes | No | |
| 1973 | El espíritu de la colmena | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 1983 | El sur | Yes | Yes | No | |
| 1992 | El sol del membrillo | Yes | Yes | No | Documentary film |
| 2016 | Víctor Erice: Abbas Kiarostami. Correspondencias | Yes | Yes | Yes | Experimental documentary film. Co-directed with Abbas Kiarostami. |
| 2023 | Close Your Eyes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Short Films Directed by Erice
| Year | Film | Credited as | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | |||
| 1961 | Al final de la fiesta subieron a la terraza | Yes | No | Student film |
| 1962 | Páginas De Un Diario Perdido | Yes | No | |
| Entre Las Vías | Yes | No | ||
| 1963 | Los Días Perdidos | Yes | Yes | |
| 1969 | Segment 3 | Yes | Yes | Part of the film "Los Desafíos". |
| 2002 | Lifeline | Yes | Yes | Part of the film "Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet". |
| 2003 | Apuntes (1990-2003) | Yes | Yes | Documentary about his film "El Sol del Membrillo". |
| 2005 | Apoyo de la luz | Yes | Yes | Also worked as cinematographer. |
| 2006 | La Morte Rouge | Yes | Yes | Experimental documentary short film. |
| 2007 | Sea-Mail | Yes | Yes | Also producer, camera operator, and main actor. |
| 2012 | Ana Three Minutes | Yes | Yes | Part of the film "3.11 Sense of Home". |
| Vidros Partidos | Yes | Yes | Part of the film "Centro Histórico". | |
| 2018 | Plegaría | Yes | No | Short film based on photos he took. |
| 2019 | Piedra y cielo | Yes | No | Video installation based on the work of Jorge Oteiza. |
Awards and Honors
- Jury Prize, 1992 Cannes Film Festival
- FIRPRESCI Prize, 1992 Cannes Film Festival
- Golden Leopard for lifetime achievement
See also
In Spanish: Víctor Erice para niños
