Program Overview

Spanish Culture Course - Spanish Cinema I

Course Description

The Spanish cinema course aims to critically evaluate films shown in class and understand Spanish conversation through film analysis, including formal and informal expressions and different dialects. The course seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the socio-political and cultural realities of Spain through a cinematic lens.

Methodology

In all sessions, before showing the film, students will work on:

• The synopsis
• Cast credits
• Crew credits
• Reviews of the film
• The cinematographic career of the director
• Filmography
• The argument and themes of the film
• Characters and their relationships
• The sociocultural and historical framework of the film
• The lexical field (vocabulary and idiomatic expressions)

Once the pre-viewing task has been completed, the film will be shown, followed by a talk with the students.

Assessment System

• Attendance and participation in class: 20%
• First mid-semester examination: 40%
• Second mid-semester examination: 40%

Syllabus

During the course, films and excerpts will be shown from some of the most representative works in Spanish film, from its origins to the present day. Some of the output of the most acclaimed authors will be analyzed, including Buñuel, Bardem, García Berlanga, Saura, etc. and there will be a particular focus on some productions by the most relevant directors: Almodóvar, Trueba, Amenábar, Medem, Emilio Martínez Lázaro, Inés París, and Daniela Fejerman, among others.

Some films that are usually shown are: Belle Époque by Fernando Trueba; Volver by Pedro Almodóvar; Mar adentro by Alejandro Amenábar or El otro lado de la cama by Emilio Martínez-Lázaro or La lengua de las mariposas by José Luis Cuerda, among others.

In addition, titles from current film listings will be shown to introduce students to the cinematography of each year.

In the first class session, the student will be given the list of films that will be projected during the course.

Bibliography

• BENET, V. (2012): El cine español, Barcelona, Paidós Ibérica.
• GUBERN, R.; MONTERDE, J.E., PÉREZ PERUCHA, J.; RIAMBAU, E. Y TORREIRO, C. (2010): Historia del cine español, Madrid, Cátedra, 1995. (7ª ed)
• HEREDERO, C. F., (1999): Veinte nuevos directores, Madrid, Alianza.
• MONTERDE, J.E. (1993): Veinte años de cine español . Un cine bajo la paradoja. Barcelona, Paidós Ibérica.
• SEGUIN, J. C., (1996): Historia del cine español, Madrid, Acento Editorial.
• TORRES, A. M., (1996): Diccionario Espasa de cine español, (edición de bolsillo), Madrid, Espasa.
• VICENTE J. BENET, V. J. (2012): El cine español. Una historia cultural, Barcelona, Paidós.
• ZABALA, J. Y OTROS (2007) El cine español contado con sencillez. Madrid, Maeva.

Technical Specifications

• Language: Spanish
• Type: Culture
• Duration: 45 hours
• ECTS credits: 6
• Format: Face-to-face

Information of Interest

• Courses in Spanish culture
• Diploma in Hispanic Studies
• Certificate in Hispanic Studies
• Cancellation and course changes
• Cancellation of enrolment

Course Details

• Course price:
  • General price: 546,00€
  • Reduced price: 491,40€
• Select a group and enroll:
  • BCN - City Center
    • Thurs | 17:00-20:00 | 15/09//12/2025
    • Group: 10
    • Teacher: Díaz Tapia, Maria Ángeles / Español Giralt, Mireia

Minimum Level of Spanish Language Required

From Beginner

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