Flamenco

This film (drama)Also known asFlamenco，is aSpainProducerwomen sex，At1995Released in year 。The dialogue language isSpanish，Current Douban rating8.8(For reference only)。

Introduction: Carlos Saura is a prominent film director in Spanish history. He skillfully integrates various arts such as Spanish painting, dance, music, and stage design, centered around flamenco dance, creating a magnificent visual miracle through unique camera movements in minimalism. His works "Carmen," which won the Best Artistic Contribution Award and the Highest Technical Award at Cannes, along with "Blood Wedding" and "Love's Sorcery," are known as the "Flamenco Trilogy," marking Saura's most representative works. Over the past half century, Saura's rich oeuvre has become an important commentary on the political, historical, and social changes in Spain. Born in 1932 in Huesca, Aragon, Saura held his first solo exhibition at the Royal Photographic Society at the age of 19. Following the advice of his artist brother Antonio, he entered the Film Research and Experimentation Center (I.I.E.C., the predecessor of the Spanish National Film School). Saura's early works lean towards realism and are infused with the spirit of the New Wave; his representative work "The Hunt" (La Caza) from 1966 is complemented by "The Prima Angelica" and "Cria!" (1976), both of which were highly praised by critics in Europe and America, subsequently winning awards at Cannes. In the 1980s, Saura set a precedent by presenting dance through film with the "Flamenco Trilogy," bringing a new film form and aesthetic to the international film scene. His unique camera techniques not only highlight the passionate energy and graceful lines of flamenco dance but also showcase his ability to create dazzling cinematic visual language from minimalism. Among them, "Carmen" won the Artistic Contribution Award and the Higher Technical Award at Cannes and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. In the 1990s, Saura collaborated with renowned photographers and art directors on several works, winning the Technical Award at Cannes for "Dancing in the Rain" and getting nominated for the Oscar again. Over the past twenty-plus years, Saura has produced numerous films encompassing both narrative and flamenco musical dance genres, solidifying his unique position internationally through accolades at international film festivals, while his contributions to the expansion of Spanish musical films are profound. Flamenco is a comprehensive form of art from Spain, integrating dance, singing, and instrumental music; it was once popular in southern Spain and has now spread to broader areas of Spain, becoming one of the country's representative arts. Southern Spain's Andalusia has long been a melting pot of various music cultures. In ancient times, residents from Greece, Carthage, Rome, and Byzantium brought music from remote areas of the Mediterranean, later enriched by the Goths and their culture. From the 8th century, Arabs established the West Caliphate, ruling for over 700 years. Starting in the 15th century, Gypsies began migrating heavily to the region. Consequently, Andalusia is greatly influenced by Arab culture and the compelling charm of Gypsy song and dance, making it one of the most exotic places in Europe with Eastern colors. This backdrop led to the emergence of flamenco art. There are many theories about the origins of flamenco; some believe it was brought by Gypsies from Northern India, while others think it has Arab roots, but it is certain that it is closely related to the Gypsies. In flamenco performances, we often see singers with furrowed brows, melancholic and angry expressions, and hoarse voices, which are rarely seen in other performances. This may seem strange, but understanding the background of flamenco helps clarify these sentiments. Flamenco art reflects the impoverished and tragic fate and situation of the Gypsies, expressing it through poetry, music, and dance. After the unification of Spain in the 15th century, monarchs and the Catholic Church forced Jews and Arabs to convert; Gypsies were compelled to change their lifestyles. To escape persecution, they were forced to leave home and became displaced, fleeing to remote mountains, where they lived similarly difficult lives. It is through their voices, dance steps, and instruments that the Gypsies have conveyed all this. By the mid-18th century, flamenco was already popular in Andalusia, but high society still rejected it. It was not until a composer associated with the popular one-act play "TonaTia" incorporated Gypsy verses and melodies that things began to change. This period saw the emergence of many professional singers, and in 1920, the first flamenco opera was performed. A famous flamenco competition took place in Granada in 1922, but soon after, this art form began to decline. It was not until the 1956 flamenco competition in Córdoba and the establishment of the flamenco school in Jerez in 1957 that the art experience a revival and development. During performances, a group of singers, dancers, and guitarists forms a semicircular group seated on stage. The show begins with the singer's shouts and exclamations, igniting passion in the audience's hearts, while the guitarist plays an introduction or prelude, creating a special atmosphere for the song and dance. Before singing, performers adjust their voices; the raspy, nasal quality of flamenco singing remains a defining characteristic. Ornamental notes are often placed on accented syllables, and the use of microtonal variations is common. This is a singing style rarely seen in other Western European countries. Lyrics often relate to God, love, women, and death, with very few references to money or wealth, which may connect to certain Gypsy beliefs. The guitar serves both as a solo instrument and for accompaniment but mainly acts as a rhythmic instrument with three basic musical techniques: finger strumming, melodic phrasing, and improvisational breaks. Guitarists play with considerable force, producing bright timbres. Throughout the performance, both performers and audiences seek a connection termed "duende"—a spiritual communion seen as the highest ideal. Flamenco features both free-form and regularly structured rhythms, with a common twelve-beat pattern that incorporates five accents, akin to the Indian tala rhythm. The music often features augmented seconds. Stylistically, flamenco music is a mix of melancholy and fervor, with male dancers emphasizing footwork that produces crisp rhythms, while female dancers focus more on gestures of the hands, wrists, arms, waists, and hips. Dancers often find themselves dancing while clapping or vocalizing with their fingers, combined with the sounds of singing, clapping, shouting, stomping, and castanets, creating an intricate dialogue between performers and the audience, resulting in an intensely passionate atmosphere. There are over 60 classic flamenco songs and dance programs, some performed solo and others collectively, with some accompanied and others unaccompanied. Generally, they can be categorized into three types: deep songs, also called great songs, representing the earliest and most difficult flamenco music, featuring free rhythm, dark timbre, and sometimes near shouting, abundant microtones and ornamentation, with rich Eastern tonal colors. The second type is lively songs, characterized by joyful emotions, smooth melodies, and distinct rhythms, incorporating elements of Latin American music. The third type is moderate songs, which lie between the first two categories. There are many notable flamenco singers. In the golden age around 1920, the most famous male singer was the Gypsy Manolo Galaco, and the renowned female singer was Pastora Pavón. The contemporary standout male singer is Camarón de Isla, known for both bright high notes and rough timbres, deeply moving every audience member. The most famous female singer is Carmen Linares, while the early renowned flamenco guitarist was Ramón Montoya, who assimilated classical guitar techniques and developed flamenco guitar artistry. The most famous contemporary guitarist is Paco de Lucía, who innovatively drew influences from Latin American music. In recent years, younger generations have started to blend flamenco art with jazz, Brazilian bossa nova, Caribbean salsa, and blues rock, forming a new genre.