El amor brujo

1986 1h 40m ES

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 30

MusicDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In a Gypsy village, the fathers of Candela and José promise their children to each other. Years later, the unfaithful José marries Candela but while defending his lover Lucía in a brawl, he is stabbed to death. Carmelo, who secretly loves Candela since he was a boy, is arrested while helping José and unfairly sent to prison. Four years later he is released and declares his love for Candela. However, the woman is cursed by a bewitched love and every night she goes to the place where José died to dance with his ghost.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Cast

Antonio Gades
Carmelo
Cristina Hoyos
Candela
Laura del Sol
Lucía
Juan Antonio Jiménez
José
Emma Penella
Tía Rosario
La Polaca
Pastora
Rocío Jurado
Herself (voice)
Gómez de Jerez
El Lobo / Cantaor

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Carlos Saura
Writers: Carlos Saura, Antonio Gades
Languages: Spanish
Countries: Spain

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

40 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

CRAFT

Did you know

Part of the "The Flamenco Trilogy" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Carlos Saura, shot by Teo Escamilla. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Pedro del Rey shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Antonio Gades and Cristina Hoyos and Laura del Sol carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0090636 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 30 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Carlos Saura directs. Teo Escamilla behind the camera. Pedro del Rey cuts. Produced in Spain. Dialogue in Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

140 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Part of the "The Flamenco Trilogy" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Carlos Saura, shot by Teo Escamilla. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor Pedro del Rey shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Antonio Gades and Cristina Hoyos and Laura del Sol carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0090636 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 30 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Teo Escamilla
Editing: Pedro del Rey
Production design: Gerardo Vera
Runtime: 100 min · 1h 40m
Status: Released
Original language: ES
IMDB: El amor brujo (1986)

Part of

The Flamenco Trilogy

One of Spanish cinema’s great auteurs, Carlos Saura brought international audiences closer to the art of his country’s dance than any other filmmaker, before or since. In his Flamenco Trilogy—Blood Wedding, Carmen, and El amor brujo—Saura merged his passion for music with his exploration of national identity. All starring and choreographed by legendary dancer Antonio Gades, the films feature thrilling physicality and electrifying cinematography and editing—colorful paeans to bodies in motion as well as to cinema itself.