BLOOD WEDDING
Spain, 1981, 71 minutes, Colour.
Antonio Gades, Cristina Hoyos, Juan Antonio, Pilar Cardenas.
Directed by Carlos Saura.
Blood Wedding is a short feature by celebrated Spanish writer/director Carlos Saura. Saura is admired in Spain and internationally well known for such films as Anna and the Wolves, Ray's Ravens, Elissa My Love, Momma Turns 100 and Tender Hours.
This film is very much like a master class program. It is rehearsal for and dress rehearsal of a Flamenco-ballet based on Garcia Lorca's Blood Wedding. It is choreographed by celebrated Flamenco dancer, Antonio Gades.
The structure of the film is basically the arrival of the cast for their rehearsal, an introduction to the performers as they put on their makeup, an example of Gades rehearsing steps with his troupe and the dress rehearsal of Lorca's drama.
The film shows the theatre, the dressing rooms, and the arrival of the players. The atmosphere of the theatre is well created by showing the room as well as the details of mirrors, costumes, makeup and its application. There is talk amongst the players and we see them as ordinary people. There is an introduction to Gades himself and he does a voiceover explaining his career - childhood, introduction to dance, professional experiences and final training and success.
The rehearsal sequence is very well done as a master class. Gades explains and demonstrates and makes his demands on the troupe. They perform a number of steps and this culminates in a movement of the group diagonally across the rehearsal floor. Gades is an example of a choreographer using modern dance styles with flamenco traditions.
The Lorca play is concerned with basic relationships - the bridegroom preparing for the ceremony with his adoring mother; the bride and her lover; the ceremony with the intervention of the lover; the clash when the bride flees with the lover and the two men confront each other; the death of both men and the bride left bereft. The dancing is in the flamenco style done with great expression and with a great sense of pride. There is a variety of dance style which culminates in a slow motion mime fight of the two protagonists. The music is by Emilio de Diego.
The opening credits has a tableau sequence from the wedding. We see this tableau in the middle of the performance and there is significance as this photo is used once again for the final credits after the experience of the dance and the melodrama. The film is an interesting example of a cinema director using his fluid styles to present characters, dance, the performance of dance.
