COUSIN ANGELICA

Spain, 1974, 107 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Carlos Saura.

Cousin Angelica is an early and interesting film from writer-director Carlos Saura. He was to go on to make such interesting films as Raise Ravens, Mama Turns 100 as well as the dance films, Carmen and Blood Wedding. (Saura was married to Geraldine Chaplin and this film is dedicated to Oona and
Charlie.)

Set in Franco's Spain of the '70s, it has flashbacks to the time of the Civil War and its effect on Lewis, the hero. Infatuated, in those days, with his cousin Angelica, he has grown up and not married, seemingly not developed. The opportunity to transfer his mother's remains enables him to meet the people of his past and to enter into his past via flashbacks. Saura uses the device of having the adult Lewis act in the flashbacks - perhaps the fact that while we remember the past, it is ourselves in the present remembering.

The film has some surrealistic touches, but is an interesting exploration of human relationships, the Spanish situation under Franco.

1. An interesting human document? Spanish perspective!/ The Franco era? The work of Carlos Saura' and his career?

2. Colour photography, the '70s and the Spanish cities and countryside, the flashbacks to the past and the contrast in style? The special effects (for the bombing sequence)?

3. Lewis as focus: in the '70s, his life, his memories? Age, his relationship with his parents, devotion to his mother, transferring her remains? His isolated and lonely life? The decision to visit his aunt? The memories with her? His eagerness to see his cousin Angelica? Meeting Angelica, her husband Anselmo, their daughter Angelica? The aunt and the memories? Angelica and his love? Sharing the memories of the past? Regrets? Encountering the young Angelica and her resemblance to her mother? The friendship with Anselmo and yet his suspicions? Friendly and angry? Meeting the friar and not recognising him, memories of school? The celebration of the transfer of remains? The purpose of his visit and its effect on him? His continuing to withdraw?

4. Lewis and his memories? The device of having the adult Lewis go back into his past? Its impact? The sickly boy, the relationship with his parents, especially with his mother? His aunt? Angelica and her sharing, provoking him? Scithol, the priests, the confession, the clergy, the fire and brimstone sermon? The boy with the shrapnel? The memory of the bombers and the explosions: the opening of the film, the later recurring of these images? The effect of this on Lewis for his life?

5. Angelica: the past, growing up, later, her family, Anselmo?

6. The young Angelica and Lewis sharing so much her, memories of her mother as a child, the bicycle ride at the end its purpose, effect?

7. The sketch of the aunt and her relationship with Lewis?

8. Anselmo, the strained relationship with Angelica? Lewis?

9. A portrait of a family? In '70s Spain? The Franco era and its hold over the Spaniards? The heritage of the Franco era?