U.S. Audiences Finally Get a Chance to See Acclaimed Film

In a year in which Roberto Benigni’s Oscar-winning “Life Is Beautiful” got most of the attention among foreign-language films, American audiences most likely didn’t even have a chance to see other nominees from that category. Among them was Jose Luis Garci’s sweetly contemplative film “The Grandfather” (“El Abuelo”), which finally opens in U.S. theaters today.

Better late than never for the film and its 56-year-old director.

Set in turn-of-the-century Spain, the film is based on the play by noted Spanish playwright Benito Perez Galdos. It is the story of the Count of Albrit, who upon losing his massive fortune in Peru, returns to Spain impoverished but with his pride and title intact. While in America, the count’s only son died, leaving the count only a few possessions and a letter from his son saying that his daughter-in-law had been unfaithful. The count, played by noted Spanish actor Fernando Fernan-Gomez, returns to Spain on a mission to find out which of his two granddaughters is his legitimate heiress.

But in the twilight of his years, the count realizes that love and family are more important than aristocratic blood lines and pride.

It is a story that pits honor against friendship, decency against vulgarity, all against the backdrop of the changing nature of Spain’s social classes. The old count finds himself in a new Spain, where the old aristocratic social order is quickly giving way to equality and democracy and the middle class is rising to power.

It was a story Garci feared would not resonate with modern audiences.

“It’s a film for actors, characters and is more reflective,” Garci said. “It was a very big risk because the public is accustomed to movies with a fast rhythm and special effects. It had all the possibilities of a flop.”

But to his surprise, the film did fairly well in Spain among audiences young and old. It was nominated for best film last year in Spain. Although it was not a huge commercial hit, Garci said he was astounded by its relative success.

“It is a film that has given me a lot of happiness and surprises,” Garci said. “It is a film that talks a lot about love and honor, and there is very little love and honor in the world. Those themes are very universal and still very much alive.”

Veteran Spanish Actor’s Performance Praised

The performance of lead actor Fernan-Gomez, one of Spain’s foremost actors, has been widely praised internationally. His Count of Albrit, who bore physical resemblance to Walt Whitman and Leo Tolstoy, is like a wounded old lion, eliciting tenderness, fear and resentment throughout the film. Albrit’s only friend, Don Pio Coronado, a man whose pure heart causes him eternal hardship, is played by Rafael Alonso, who died of cancer shortly after completing the film.

“That is why he is so good [with his performance] because he knew he did not have too long left,” Garci said. “When he looked into the camera you could see that he was beyond this world and was touching a real depth of emotion.”

Garci, who began making films more than 30 years ago and won an Oscar for his 1983 film, “To Begin Again,” sees himself more as a writer than a director. For “The Grandfather” he stayed loyal to Galdos’ characters and themes, but took other liberties necessary to adapt the story to film. He never studied film, rather he says he educated himself as other directors of his generation--by watching films incessantly in his youth.

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Despite his achievements as a director, with four of his films nominated for an Oscar (more than any Spanish director), controversy seems to hound Garci.

He has often been criticized for his conservative politics. And as a filmmaker, he has been labeled overly sentimental.

Last year, he found himself embroiled in a nasty fight with the Spanish film establishment when he was accused of buying votes for his movie. An anonymous note had been sent to voting members of the Spanish Academy of Cinematic Arts and Sciences saying that Garci’s aides would personally collect the ballots. Garci has denied buying votes or any connection to the letter.

The incident hurt not only his reputation but also his chances at winning any award in his native country. The film, which received 13 Goya nominations (Spain’s equivalent of the Academy Award), came away with one award.

The film’s Oscar nomination and a recent National Medal of Fine Arts for Film given to him by the King of Spain seemed to vindicate Garci, but the issue still is not resolved. He is now suing members of the Spanish academy for slander.

“I want it to come out that I had nothing to do with this and for my name to be cleared,” he said. “It was a lamentable incident.”

Garci is now writing his next script, tentatively called “Far,” a drama set in 1947 Spain, as the country is going through the adjustment of the end of the war and the reign of Fascist dictator Francisco Franco.

He says he would like to work in the United States but his halting English holds him back. He’s also ambivalent about working in Hollywood, where he thinks special effects and action-packed movies take precedence over the narrative and contemplative films he enjoys writing and directing.

“The old studio bosses had celluloid in their blood,” he said. “The new bosses do not care about film. It’s very hard now because these young execs start their cinematic history with ‘Star Wars.’ Today’s movies are like fast food and I enjoy sitting down at the table to a big dinner. I prefer a nice big steak to a hamburger.”