Carlos Saura (1932–2023) was one of Spain’s most celebrated and prolific directors. He is known for films that offer social and political commentary and use allegory to explore Spanish identity. He was encouraged to pursue a career in cinema by his older brother, Antonio Saura, whose large-scale painting “Portrait of Mari” is in the Meadows Museum’s permanent collection. In 2023, just one day after his death, Carlos Saura received an honorary Goya award in recognition of his contribution to modern Spanish cinema. This fall the Meadows Museum is proud to collaborate with Dallas Film to present three outstanding works by this great director.

This month:
¡Ay Carmela! (Oh, Carmela!), 1999
Spanish with English subtitles | 102 minutes | Rated PG-13
During the Spanish Civil War, a traveling vaudeville troupe entertains the Republican Army with a small cabaret show. Following the show, they fall into the hands of the fascist Nationalists as they travel to Valencia. The only way for the troupe to save their lives is to perform for a group of Nationalist soldiers, which clashes with the entertainers’ morals and ideology. “¡Ay Carmela!” swept thirteen categories at the 5th Goya Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress. It was also selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 63rd Academy Awards.

$5; free for members at the Goya/Individual level and up and SMU students