Víctor Erice facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Víctor Erice
Born	Víctor Erice Aras (1940-06-30) 30 June 1940 (age 84) Karrantza, Biscay, Spain
Alma mater	University of Madrid
Occupation	Film director writer
Years active	1961–present

Víctor Erice Aras (born June 30, 1940) is a famous Spanish film director. He is most 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.

Early Life and Education

Erice was born in Karrantza, a town in Biscay, Spain. He went to the University of Madrid. There, he studied law, political science, and economics. In 1963, he also went to a special school to learn how to direct films.

Víctor Erice's Film Career

Before making feature films, Víctor Erice wrote about movies. He shared his thoughts and reviews in a Spanish film magazine called Nuestro Cine. He also made several short films.

First Feature Films

His first full-length movie was The Spirit of the Beehive (1973). This film showed a critical view of what life was like in rural Spain in the 1940s.

At that time, Spain was ruled by a strong leader named Francisco Franco. Erice, like other filmmakers such as Luis Buñuel, used his movies to comment on the government. The Spirit of the Beehive was released in 1973, while Franco was still in power. The movie is famous for using symbols to show what life was like under Franco's rule. Setting the film in 1940, at the start of Franco's time in power, was a brave choice for Erice.

Ten years later, Erice wrote and directed El Sur (1983). This movie was based on a story by Adelaida García Morales. It is also a highly respected film. However, the producer only allowed him to film about two-thirds of the story.

Later Works and Recognition

His third movie, The Quince Tree Sun (1992), is a documentary. A documentary is a film that tells a true story or shows real events. This movie is about the painter Antonio López García. The Quince Tree Sun won two important awards at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival: the Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Prize.

Erice was supposed to direct a movie called The Shanghai Spell. But the producer decided to give the project to another director. This made Erice very disappointed.

In May 2010, he was a member of the jury at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. This means he helped decide which films won awards. In 2014, Erice received a special award. He got the Golden Leopard award for his lifetime achievements at the Locarno Film Festival.

In 2022, after 30 years since his last full-length film, news came out about a new movie project. This film, called Cerrar los ojos (Close Your Eyes), premiered in 2023. It received very positive reviews from critics.

Erice's Unique Style

Film experts often praise Víctor Erice's work. Geoff Andrew called his part in Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet (Lifeline) "masterly." He wished Erice made more films.

Erice has made only a few major films. These include The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), the unfinished El Sur (1983), Dream of Light (1992, also known as The Quince Tree Sun), and Close Your Eyes (2023 film).

Critic Tony Rayns described The Spirit of the Beehive as a "haunting mood piece." This means the film creates a strong, memorable feeling without relying much on a clear plot. It uses sounds and images in a complex way to create its magic. People have said that in El Sur, Erice creates his film like a painting. He uses slow changes and beams of light that make still scenes powerful.

Influence on Other Filmmakers

Víctor Erice's movies have inspired many other directors. These include Carla Simón, Carlos Vermut, Alejandro Amenábar, Oliver Laxe, Estibaliz Urresola, and Jaione Camborda.

His way of showing children dreaming and being drawn to fantasy worlds, especially during difficult times like the Spanish Civil War, influenced Mexican director Guillermo del Toro. Del Toro's films, such as The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth, show this influence.

Political Views and Activism

In December 2023, Víctor Erice joined 50 other filmmakers in signing an open letter. This letter was published in a newspaper called Libération. It asked for a ceasefire and an end to the killing of civilians. This was during the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip. The letter also asked for help to reach Gaza and for hostages to be released.

Filmography

Feature films

Short films

Source:

Awards

• 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