The filmmaker Carlos Saura, one of the classics of Spanish cinema, died on Friday 10 February at the age of 91, one day before receiving an honorary Goya for his brilliant career and trajectory. It was his widow, Eulalia Ramón, and his children Antonio and Anna who received the award in his place. The Film Academy set up the funeral chapel until Monday so that his relatives and friends could come to bid farewell.
Born in 1932 and beginning with photography and painting, he was greatly influenced by the films of Luis Buñuel. Shortly afterwards, he began to make his own films, including La caza (1966), which won a Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, and Peppermint Frappé (1967) with Charlie Chaplin’s daughter, Geraldine Chaplin, whom he would marry shortly afterwards. For La prima Angélica (1974) he was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Festival, and two years later he received the Grand Jury Prize for Cría cuervos (1976).
A multifaceted filmmaker, he tried his hand at the musical genre with Bodas de sangre (1981), followed by Carmen (1983), which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film (he would be nominated twice more) and El Amor Brujo (1986). Deprisa, deprisa (1981) won the Golden Bear at Berlin and ¡Ay, Carmela! (1990) won his two Goyas, for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
His long and prolific career was also recognised with the Gold Medal of the Film Academy, the National Cinematography Award, the Golden Biznaga at the Malaga Film Festival, the Golden Shell of Honour at San Sebastian and the European Film Academy Award of Honour.
Our condolences to his family and friends from Peris Costumes, and our recognition of his fundamental role in Spanish cinema and its international projection.