Luis García Berlanga

Directing

Luis García Berlanga

Born July 12, 1921 · Valencia, España

Died November 13, 2010 · aged 89

One of the best known filmmakers in the world and director of some of the most famous films of Spanish cinema, tender in his vision of the characters, but satirical to the point of biting in his social analysis, clearly critical despite the censorship of the Franco regime. He was born in 1921 into a wealthy Valencian family. After the Second World War, he studied at the Escuela Oficial de Cine (II…

Known For

The ExecutionerThe Executioner · 1963
The Executioner
★ 7.61963
MovieComedyDrama
An undertaker gets married to an old executioner's daughter and, although he doesn't like it, must continue the profession of his father-in-law after his retirement.
To My Dear Mother on Her BirthdayTo My Dear Mother on Her Birthday · 1974
To My Dear Mother on Her Birthday
★ 6.21974
MovieComedy
Count Fernando, called Didino, a shy and sexually repressed man, lives under the oedipal authority of countess Mafalda, his bloodsucking and over-controlling mother, until their family hires a new young maid that changes his life.
Miracles of ThursdayMiracles of Thursday · 1957
Miracles of Thursday
★ 6.81957
MovieComedy
In Fontecilla, a Spanish village in decline, the mayor and other illustrious citizens hatch a crazy plan to revitalize tourism.
The Rocket from CalabuchThe Rocket from Calabuch · 1956
The Rocket from Calabuch
★ 7.51956
MovieComedy
Professor Hamilton, a naive Nuclear scientist who once thought bombs were good for humanity, realizes his mistake and runs away from his inventions. He hides in Calabuch, a beautiful seaside town where people still believe in humor and friendship.
National HeritageNational Heritage · 1981
National Heritage
★ 7.11981
MovieComedy
After the death of General Franco, the Leguineche family leaves their estate of Los Tejadillos, where they have remained for decades in voluntary exile, with the purpose of returning to Madrid to actively participate in the social events of the aristocracy and to get closer to the closest circle of the Spanish monarch. The obsession of the old marquis is centered on getting in touch with the most illustrious surnames, to ascend socially and to resume the pomp and courtly life that his family lost a long time ago. To this end, he decides to move into an old palace he owns, located in the center of the capital, but not before overcoming the difficulties posed by his wife, who deeply hates both her husband and her son. To regain control of the palace, the Marquis of Leguineche tries to handicap his wife, arguing an incurable mental illness, and then undertake a reform of the place in order to adapt it to aristocratic life.
The Four TruthsThe Four Truths · 1962
The Four Truths
★ 4.21962
MovieComedyDrama
"Les quatre vérités" aka "The Four Truths" is a movie anthology that consists of four segments, all loosely parodying fables from the 17th-century French poet Jean de la Fontaine. The US cut usually features only 3 segments.
Welcome Mr. Marshall!Welcome Mr. Marshall! · 1953
Welcome Mr. Marshall!
★ 7.41953
MovieComedy
A small Spanish town, Villar del Río, is alerted to the upcoming visit of American diplomats and its ruling townsmen begin preparations to impress the American visitors, in the hopes of benefiting under the Marshall Plan. Hoping to demonstrate the side of Spanish culture with which the visiting foreign officials would be more familiarized, the Castilian citizens don unfamiliar Andalusian costumes, hire a renowned flamenco performer, and re-decorate their town in Andalusian style, meantime waiting for their uncertain arrival.
The HeiferThe Heifer · 1985
The Heifer
★ 6.71985
MovieComedyWar
During the Spanish Civil War a platoon of mismatched Republican soldiers cross the front-line to steal the bull that the enemy is going to fight on the local holiday of the nearby village. In addition to ruining the Nationalist faction's celebration they want the animal in order to butcher it and feed their famished troops. They get caught in the process and have to go through a series of funny and pathetic incidents before they can get back to their side.

Filmography

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National HeritageNational Heritage · 1981
National Heritage
★ 7.11981
MovieComedy
After the death of General Franco, the Leguineche family leaves their estate of Los Tejadillos, where they have remained for decades in voluntary exile, with the purpose of returning to Madrid to actively participate in the social events of the aristocracy and to get closer to the closest circle of the Spanish monarch. The obsession of the old marquis is centered on getting in touch with the most illustrious surnames, to ascend socially and to resume the pomp and courtly life that his family lost a long time ago. To this end, he decides to move into an old palace he owns, located in the center of the capital, but not before overcoming the difficulties posed by his wife, who deeply hates both her husband and her son. To regain control of the palace, the Marquis of Leguineche tries to handicap his wife, arguing an incurable mental illness, and then undertake a reform of the place in order to adapt it to aristocratic life.

Director