Berta's Motives
Berta's Motives (Spanish: Los motivos de Berta)[1] is a 1984 Spanish black and white film written and directed by José Luis Guerín (in his feature film debut). It stars Silvia Gracia, Arielle Dombasle, Iñaki Aierra, and Rafael Díaz.
| Berta's Motives | |
|---|---|
Film poster | |
| Spanish | Los motivos de Berta |
| Directed by | José Luis Guerín |
| Written by | José Luis Guerín |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Gerardo Gormezano |
| Edited by | José Luis Guerín |
| Music by | Franz Schubert |
Release dates |
|
| Country | Spain |
| Language | Spanish |
Plot
Taking place in the fictional village of Sotoluego, the plot focus on the maturing of 13-year-old Berta. The monotonous life of the village is upended by the arrival of extravagant Demetrio and the settling of a film crew.[2]
Cast
- Silvia Gracia as Berta[3]
- Arielle Dombasle as Mabel[4]
- Iñaki Aierra as Demetrio[4]
- Juan Diego Botto as Luisito[3]
- Raúl Fraire as Don Belardo[3]
- Rafael Díaz as Ismael[3]
- Carmen Ávila as Águeda[3]
- Cristina Bodelón[5]
- María Botto[6]
Production
The film boasted a budget of around 10 million ₧.[7] It was shot in Melque de Cercos, province of Segovia.[8][9]
Release
The film had a couple of press screenings on 9 March 1984 at Madrid's Cines Griffith.[10] It was presented in the 'Cine Español' section of the 32nd San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 1984.[11] It also made it to the programme of the 1984 Mostra de València[12] and to the non-competitive slate of the 35th Berlin International Film Festival (February 1985).[13] It had a commercial release in Barcelona on 13 February 1985.[14][13] Distribution issues notwithstanding, the film earned "unanimous enthusiasm" from the critics.[15]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | 30th Sant Jordi Awards | Best Spanish Film | Won | [16] | |
See also
References
- Hivnor, Mary (1990). "The Baroque Equation in Spanish Films". Partisan Review. 17 (4): 128.
- Mayer 2010, p. 52–53.
- Mayer 2010, p. 52.
- Mayer 2010, p. 53.
- Aldarondo, Ricardo (1992). "Los motivos de Berta" (PDF). Nosferatu. Revista de Cine (9).
- Sardá, Juan (27 March 2016). "María Botto: 'Nuestro cine quedará más allá de las tonterías que digan los políticos'". Yodona – via El Mundo.
- Torres, Sara (1992). "Los motivos de Guerín" (PDF). Nosferatu. Revista de Cine (9): 45.
- Broullón-Lozano 2015, p. 395.
- García Santa Cecilia, Carlos (11 July 1983). "Arielle Dombasle protagoniza 'Los motivos de Berta', de José Luis Guerín". El País.
- Broullón-Lozano, Manuel A. (2015). "Spain's TV & Cinema: una aproximación transatlántica". III Congreso Internacional Historia, arte y literatura en el cine en español y portugués: hibridaciones, transformaciones y nuevos espacios narrativos: 24, 25 y 26 de junio 2015 (PDF). Vol. 1. p. 391. ISBN 978-84-606-8174-8.
- Galán, Diego (20 September 1984). "El día de la libertad de Tasio". El País.
- Muñoz, Manuel (3 October 1984). "La Mostra de Cine Mediterrani acoge la película 'Los motivos de Berta'". El País.
- Galán, Diego (20 February 1985). "Aplausos para 'Los motivos de Berta', de José Luis Guerín, en el festival de Berlín". El País.
- Mayer, Myriam (2010). "Le temps des fantômes. Approche de l'œuvre cinématographique de José Luis Guerin". Sciences de l’Homme et Société. Aix-Marseille Université (AMU). p. 355.
- Torres 1992, p. 45.
- "'Los motivos de Berta', premio Sant Jordi de Cinematografía". El País. 9 January 1986.