Cría Cuervos
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''Cría Cuervos'' (''Raise ravens'') is a 1976 Spanish
drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
directed by
Carlos Saura Carlos Saura Atarés (born 4 January 1932) is a Spanish film director, photographer and writer. Along with Luis Buñuel and Pedro Almodóvar, he is considered to be one of Spain’s most renowned filmmakers. He has a long and prolific career th ...
. The film is an allegorical drama about an eight-year-old girl dealing with loss. Highly acclaimed, it received the Special Jury Prize Award at the
1976 Cannes Film Festival The 29th Cannes Film Festival was held from 13 to 28 May 1976. The Palme d'Or went to ''Taxi Driver'' by Martin Scorsese. In 1976, "L'Air du temps", a new section which was non-competitive and focused on contemporary subjects, was introduced. This ...
.


Plot

The events of the film are set mainly in 1975, but interweave the past, present and future. Eight-year-old Ana overhears her father, Anselmo, in bed with a woman, followed by choking sounds. The woman rushes out alone and leaves. Ana finds her father dead in bed, apparently from a heart attack. Calmly, Ana removes a half-full glass of milk from the dresser, carries it to the kitchen, and washes it. Ana's mother, María, enters the kitchen and chides her for being up so late. It is revealed shortly that Ana is imagining her mother, who previously died of cancer. At Anselmo's wake, Ana again sees the woman who fled the bedroom - Amelia, who is married to Nicolás, a longtime army compatriot of Anselmo's. (It is mentioned later that the two men had served in División Azul, volunteering to fight alongside the
Nazis Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Na ...
in
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.) Although Ana views her father's body, she refuses to kiss his forehead when prompted by the adults. Upon returning home from the wake, Ana goes into the basement and retrieves a tin containing a white powder. The camera pans to an adult Ana, who looks exactly like María and begins to address the camera. She explains that her mother had once told her the powder was a potent poison, and that after her mother's death, she came to the conclusion that her father's cruelty had caused the cancer, so she used the powder to kill her father. Ana, who is on summer vacation from school, lives in a large, quiet house with her young sisters, Irene and Maite; her grandmother, who is mute and a wheelchair user; Roni, a pet
guinea pig The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig (''Cavia porcellus''), also known as the cavy or domestic cavy (), is a species of rodent belonging to the genus ''Cavia'' in the family Caviidae. Breeders tend to use the word ''cavy'' to describe the ani ...
; and Rosa, the vivacious family maid and Ana's closest companion. Following the funeral, María's sister Paulina becomes the orphaned children's guardian and moves in. Flashbacks reveal that María was a warm and imaginative mother; in contrast, Paulina is stern and patronizing. Ana rebels against her aunt's authoritarianism while routinely reliving memories of life with her mother and imagining her presence. Many of the memories are distressing, including witnessing María writhing in pain in her final days. In another, Ana watches her parents argue late at night. María begs Anselmo to be more present in his family's life, saying that she is sick and wants to die; Anselmo dismisses her coldly, countering that she is trying to manipulate him into ending his
infidelities Infidelity (synonyms include cheating, straying, adultery, being unfaithful, two-timing, or having an affair) is a violation of a couple's emotional and/or sexual exclusivity that commonly results in feelings of anger, sexual jealousy, and riva ...
by feigning illness. Growing increasingly despondent, present-day Ana offers to help her grandmother die by administering the same poison powder she used to kill her father, which her grandmother accepts, but then declines once Ana tells her that the "poison" is called
baking soda Sodium bicarbonate (IUPAC name: sodium hydrogencarbonate), commonly known as baking soda or bicarbonate of soda, is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. It is a salt composed of a sodium cation ( Na+) and a bicarbonate anion ( HCO3−) ...
. Later, Ana discovers Roni dying and strokes him until he goes still. Nicolás comes to the house to visit Paulina, who is revealed to be his mistress. Ana, holding a pistol she found in her father's study, walks in on an intimate moment between the two adults. Nicolás eventually persuades her to hand him the gun, and discovers that it was loaded. That night, Ana attempts to kill Paulina by dissolving the "poison" in a glass of milk, which she later retrieves and washes as she did her father's glass. Ana then enters Paulina's bedroom and strokes her hair as she lies asleep in bed. Ana is briefly shocked that Paulina is alive the next morning. At breakfast, Irene recounts a dream from the night before: two men kidnapped her and couldn't reach María and Anselmo for ransom, but when they were about to kill her, she woke up. The sisters leave for school, emerging from their cloistered lives into the vibrant, noisy city, captured in a long
tracking shot A tracking shot is any shot where the camera follows backward, forward or moves alongside the subject being recorded. In cinematography, the term refers to a shot in which the camera is mounted on a camera dolly that is then placed on rails – ...
that contrasts with the tighter framing of the preceding scenes.


Cast

Ana Torrent Ana Torrent Bertrán de Lis (born 12 July 1966) is a Spanish film actress. Early life and career Her debut came in 1973 with the starring role as "Ana" in the film ''El espíritu de la colmena'' (''The Spirit of the Beehive''), directed by V ...
plays the lead character, Ana. She was already well known thanks to her starring role in the film ''
El espíritu de la colmena ''The Spirit of the Beehive'' (Spanish: ''El espíritu de la colmena'') is a 1973 Spanish drama film directed by Víctor Erice. The film was Erice's debut and is considered a masterpiece of Spanish cinema. The film focuses on a young girl named ...
'' (''The Spirit of the Beehive'') (1973) by Víctor Erice, made when she was seven years old. She followed ''Cría Cuervos'' with yet another memorable role in '' The Nest'' (1980) in which she played a thirteen-year-old in a relationship with an aging widower played by
Héctor Alterio Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato (born 21 September 1929) is an Argentine theatre, film and television actor, well known both in Argentina and Spain. Biography Alterio's theatre debut came in 1948 as the lead in ''Cómo suicidarse en prima ...
, who in this film has the role of Anselmo, Ana's father.
Geraldine Chaplin Geraldine Leigh Chaplin (born July 31, 1944) is an American actress. She is the daughter of Charlie Chaplin, the first of eight children with his fourth wife, Oona O'Neill. After beginnings in dance and modeling, she turned her attention to act ...
plays dual roles: Ana's mother, María, in which she speaks
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
with an
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
accent and Ana as a young woman in which she is dubbed by actress
Julieta Serrano Julieta Serrano Romero (born 2 January 1933 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) is a Spanish theatre and cinema actress. Her prolific career began in the 1960s, and she has worked with directors Pedro Almodóvar and Ventura Pons. In September 201 ...
. Chaplin was director Saura's common-law wife and muse at that time. She appeared in ten of his films.Stone, ''Spanish Cinema'', p. 108 *
Ana Torrent Ana Torrent Bertrán de Lis (born 12 July 1966) is a Spanish film actress. Early life and career Her debut came in 1973 with the starring role as "Ana" in the film ''El espíritu de la colmena'' (''The Spirit of the Beehive''), directed by V ...
as Ana, 8 years old * Conchi Pérez as Irene, 11 years old *
Maite Sánchez Maite is a village in Ancuabe District of Cabo Delgado Province in northeastern Mozambique. It is located east of Chiure and south of the district capital of Ancuabe Ancuabe is a town in eastern Mozambique in Ancuabe District, Cabo Delgado Pro ...
as Maite, 5 years old *
Geraldine Chaplin Geraldine Leigh Chaplin (born July 31, 1944) is an American actress. She is the daughter of Charlie Chaplin, the first of eight children with his fourth wife, Oona O'Neill. After beginnings in dance and modeling, she turned her attention to act ...
as Ana's mother (María) and older Ana *
Mónica Randall Mónica Randall (born 1942) is a Spanish film actress. Randall has made some 110 appearances in film and TV since 1963. She appeared in numerous Spaghetti Westerns in the 1960s in films such as '' One Hundred Thousand Dollars for Ringo'' and ...
as Aunt Paulina *
Florinda Chico Florinda Chico Martín-Mora Medal of Merit in Labour, MML (24 April 1926 – 19 February 2011) was a Spanish actress of film, theater and television. Biography Florinda Chico Martín-Mora was born in 1926 in Don Benito (Province of Badajoz, Ba ...
as Rosa, a maid *
Josefina Díaz Josefina is a female name, a feminine form of Joseph. It may refer to: *Josefina Passadori, Argentine writer * Josefina Lopez, Chicana playwright * Josefina Pla, Spanish poet, playwright, art critic, painter and journalist *Josefina Ayerza, writer ...
as Ana's grandmother *
Héctor Alterio Héctor Benjamín Alterio Onorato (born 21 September 1929) is an Argentine theatre, film and television actor, well known both in Argentina and Spain. Biography Alterio's theatre debut came in 1948 as the lead in ''Cómo suicidarse en prima ...
as Anselmo, Ana's father *
Mirta Miller Mirta Miller (born 16 August 1948) is an Argentine film actress. She has appeared in more than 65 films since 1961. She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Selected filmography * ''No Exit'' (1962) * ''Una chica casi decente'' (1971) * '' Dr. ...
as Amelia, Anselmo's mistress *
Germán Cobos Germán Sánchez Hernández-Cobos (7 July 1927 – 12 January 2015) was a prolific Spanish actor in a variety of European films. He was married to Visitación Peralta. He was born on 7 July 1927 in Sevilla. He was known for playing Arturo Torres ...
as Nicolás, Amelia's husband


Title

The title ''Cría Cuervos'' comes from the
Spanish proverb Spanish proverbs are a subset of proverbs that are used in Western cultures in general; there are many that have essentially the same form and content as their counterparts in other Western languages. Proverbs that have their origin in Spanish have ...
, "''Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos''". This translates as, "Raise ravens, and they'll gouge your eyes out" and is generally used for someone who has bad luck in raising children, or raising them badly. It may also imply rebellious behavior of youth or that every good act will return to haunt you. The phrase "''Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos''" is said to originate with Don
Álvaro de Luna Álvaro de Luna y Fernández de Jarava (between 1388 and 13902 June 1453), was a Castilian statesman, favourite of John II of Castile. He served as Constable of Castile and as Grand Master of the Order of Santiago. He earned great influence in t ...
of Castile during a hunting expedition. In the course of the hunt his party came across a beggar with terrible scarring in the place of eyes. The beggar explained that he had raised a raven for three years with affection and great care, but it attacked him one day, leaving him blind. The bon mot was Don Álvaro's reply.Stone, ''Spanish Cinema'', p. 109 ''Cría Cuervos'' was originally released as ''Cría!'' in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
and as ''Raise Ravens'' in the UK, but the original title ''Cría Cuervos'' is now used in both countries.


Analysis

This film was made during a period where
Carlos Saura Carlos Saura Atarés (born 4 January 1932) is a Spanish film director, photographer and writer. Along with Luis Buñuel and Pedro Almodóvar, he is considered to be one of Spain’s most renowned filmmakers. He has a long and prolific career th ...
was considered one of the great opponents, along with other directors, of the
Francoist Spain Francoist Spain ( es, España franquista), or the Francoist dictatorship (), was the period of Spanish history between 1939 and 1975, when Francisco Franco ruled Spain after the Spanish Civil War with the title . After his death in 1975, Spai ...
, with characters and themes in the film alluding to Saura's interpretations and criticisms of Franco-inspired truths. The film stresses the disparity between Ana's inner world of private traumas and the outer world of political realities and the Francoist State. Ana will cope with her guilt in both arenas. When asked to elucidate the nature of Ana's suffering, the director replied: "''Cría Cuervos'' is a sad film, yes. But that's part of my belief that childhood is one of the most terrible parts in the life of a human being. What I'm trying to say is that at that age you've no idea where it is you are going, only that people are taking you somewhere, leading you, pulling you and you are frightened. You don't know where you're going or who you are or what you are going to do. It's a time of terrible indecision."Stone, ''Spanish Cinema''", p. 102


Reception

''Cría Cuervos'' was shot in the summer of 1975, as Spanish leader
Francisco Franco Francisco Franco Bahamonde (; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces in overthrowing the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War ...
lay dying, and premiered in Madrid's Conde Duque Theatre, on January 26, 1976.Criterion Collection essay by Paul Julian Smith
/ref> Highly acclaimed, it received the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
's Special Jury Prize Award. The film became director Carlos Saura and producer
Elías Querejeta Elías Querejeta Gárate (27 October 1934 – 9 June 2013), also known as Elías Querejeta () and known in the Spanish film industry as "The Producer", was a Spanish screenwriter and film producer. He is the father of Gracia Querejeta. Biograph ...
's most commercially successful film up to that point, going on to become the sixth largest grossing Spanish film of 1976.D'Lugo, ''The Films of Carlos Saura'', p. 138 The picture made a similar strong showing in foreign markets, including the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, where it solidified Saura's reputation as Spain's best internationally known director of the 1970s. Today the film is considered a political and psychological masterpiece and a classic of
Spanish cinema Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...
. The film was selected as the Spanish entry for the
Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
at the
49th Academy Awards The 49th Academy Awards were presented Monday, March 28, 1977, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. The ceremonies were presided over by Richard Pryor, Ellen Burstyn, Jane Fonda, and Warren Beatty. ''Network'' and ''All ...
, but was not accepted as a nominee.Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences It was, however, nominated for
Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...
by the U.S.
National Board of Review The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures is a non-profit organization of New York City area film enthusiasts. Its awards, which are announced in early December, are considered an early harbinger of the film awards season that culminat ...
.


Music

The film prominently features the pop song "
Porque te vas "Porque te vas" (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Because you are leaving") is a song by English-born Spanish singer Jeanette (Spanish singer), Jeanette, written by José Luis Perales and produced by Rafael Trabucchelli for record label Hispavox in ...
" by
Jeanette Jeanette, Jeannette or Jeanetta may refer to: * Jeanette (given name), a given name (including a list of people and fictional characters with the name) Places * Jeannette, Ontario, Canada * Jeannette Island, Russia * Jeannette, Pennsylvania, U.S ...
, an English-born singer, singing in Spanish, whose accented voice reminds Ana of her mother, as played by Geraldine Chaplin, who speaks Spanish with her English-accented voice. Despite an infectious rhythm the song has sad and poignant lyrics. The song expresses the fact that Ana has no understanding of death, only of absence.Stone, ''Spanish Cinema'', p. 101


DVD release

''Cría Cuervos'' was released on DVD on August 14, 2007, in a two-disc special edition as part of the
Criterion Collection The Criterion Collection, Inc. (or simply Criterion) is an American home-video distribution company that focuses on licensing, restoring and distributing "important classic and contemporary films." Criterion serves film and media scholars, cinep ...
. The film was released on Blu-ray in a Dual Format Edition on May 27, 2013, by the BFI.


See also

*
List of submissions to the 49th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of submissions to the 49th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film was created in 1956 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to honour non-English-speaking films ...
*
List of Spanish submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film Spain has submitted films for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film since the conception of the award. The award is handed out annually by the United States Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to a feature-length motion p ...


References


Bibliography

*D'Lugo, Marvin, ''The Films of Carlos Saura'', Princeton University Press, 1991, * Schwartz, Ronald, ''The Great Spanish Films: 1950 - 1990'', Scarecrow Press, London, 1991, *Stone, Rob,'' Spanish Cinema'', Pearson Education, 2002,


External links

* * *
''Cría cuervos . . . : The Past Is Not Past''
an essay by
Paul Julian Smith Paul Julian Smith is a university professor specializing in Spanish and Mexican cinema and television. He is also a film critic. He is currently a Distinguished Professor of Hispanic studies at the Graduate Center of City University of New York. ...
at the
Criterion Collection The Criterion Collection, Inc. (or simply Criterion) is an American home-video distribution company that focuses on licensing, restoring and distributing "important classic and contemporary films." Criterion serves film and media scholars, cinep ...

Film Reference



DVDLaser.com




{{DEFAULTSORT:Cria Cuervos 1976 drama films 1976 films Films directed by Carlos Saura Films shot in Madrid Madrid in fiction 1970s coming-of-age drama films Spanish coming-of-age drama films 1970s Spanish-language films Films produced by Elías Querejeta Cannes Grand Prix winners 1970s Spanish films