A series of films to celebrate the centenary year of Luis García Berlanga (1921-2010), arguably one of the greatest Spanish film directors of his time and an arch-satirist of Spanish society. Remarkably, much of his best and most cutting work were made under the scrutiny of a censorious dictatorship. The online film series revisits four ground-breaking films that played a significant role in his career and evolution as a filmmaker. Organised in collaboration with Cervantes Institute, New Delhi; Filmoteca de la AECID, ICAA; Filmoteca Española, AC/E; and Academia del Cine, Spain.

The films will be screened every Friday in June 2021 for a duration of 48 hours. Vimeo links of the films will be posted on the IIC website (www.iicdelhi.in) and sent by email.

Plácido (Spain) | (85 min; 1961; b/w;Spanish with English subtitles)

Director: Luis García Berlanga

Recipient of the CEC Award for Best Film & Best Director, Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain 1962; Prize of the National Syndicate of Spectacle for Best Supporting Actor & Best Film, National Syndicate of Spectacle, Spain 1961; and Sant Jordi for Best Film, Best Spanish Actor & Best Spanish Director, Sant Jordi Awards 1962.This corrosive Christmas story by Rafael Azcon and Luis García Berlanga, recounts the adventures of a motorbike-car driver, hired in a sordid advertising promotion campaign called 'sit a poor man at your table' charity initiative. The townsfolk can bid in a charity auction to have a second-rank starlet attend their Christmas meal, but are expected to also take a homeless or infirm person as well. The script is scathing in its depiction of petty hypocrisies but also exceptionally funny. 

https://cultura.cervantes.es/nuevadelhi/en/pl%c3%a1cido/143737