Black Tears (1998 film)

Black Tears (Spanish: Lágrimas negras) is a 1998 Spanish romantic drama film directed by Ricardo Franco and Fernando Bauluz. Ricardo Franco's swan song, filming was unfinished upon Franco's death and then completed under assistant director Fernando Bauluz. It stars Ariadna Gil and Fele Martínez alongside Elena Anaya, Ana Risueño and Elvira Mínguez.

Black Tears
Theatrical release poster
Original titleLágrimas negras
Directed by
Screenplay by
Based onan original story
by Ricardo Franco and Dionisio Pérez Galindo
Starring
CinematographyGonzalo Berridi
Edited by
  • Esperanza Cobos
  • Buster Franco
Music byEva Gancedo
Production
companies
  • Sogetel
  • Aurum
Release dates
  • 28 October 1998 (1998-10-28) (Seminci)
  • 26 February 1999 (1999-02-26) (Spain)
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish
Budget300 million

Plot

The plot tracks Andrés, a photographer engaged to his long-time girlfriend Alicia who falls romantically for a mentally-ill woman, Isabel (under the guise of 'Ana'), some time after their first encounter when the assault on Andrés by Isabel together with another woman, Cinta—as well as Andrés' ensuing kidnapping, humiliation and rape—took place.[1][2][3]

Cast

Production

The screenplay was penned by Ricardo Franco and Ángeles González Sinde,[6] based on an original story by Ricardo Franco and Dionisio Pérez Galindo.[7] The plot has a backdrop of autobiographical elements reportedly inspired by Ricardo Franco's relationship with Jean Seberg while the latter was married to Romain Gary.[8][9] Produced by Sogetel and Aurum, the film featured a 300 million budget.[10] Director Ricardo Franco died in the midst of the shooting and filming was thus completed by assistant director Fernando Bauluz.[10] Shooting wrapped in June 1998 in Portugal.[10][11] Gonzalo Berridi [ca] was responsible for cinematography and Eva Gancedo [es] for the music.[2]

Release

The film screened at the 43rd Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminci) in October 1998.[6] It also screened at the 49th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) in February 1999.[12] It was theatrically released in Spain on 26 February 1999.

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
199843rd Valladolid International Film FestivalSilver Spike for Best ActressAriadna GilWon[13]
200014th Goya AwardsBest ActressAriadna GilNominated[14]

See also

References