I thought I would give this post a somewhat controversial title to catch people’s attention.
I’ve seen three of De La Iglesia’s films, The Last Circus, Witching and Bitching and his latest film The Bar. The Last Circus is known in Spanish as Balada Triste de Trompeta which means Ballad of the Sad Trumpet which I actually think is a great title although probably doesn’t convey what the film is actually about. The image above is from the latter film.
So why have I decided to write a post about De La Iglesia? Simply because I’ve just seen his latest film which reminded me how much I love his films. I first saw one of his films a few years ago as part of the Spanish film festival at Cornerhouse in Manchester. That was the Last Circus. What intrigued me about it was the still from the film in the programme. What’s not to like about an image of a mitre-wearing clown wielding two machine-guns? I knew at the very least that it would be entertaining. And indeed it was. I remember coming out of the cinema thinking “what have I just seen?” Here was a director with his own unique take on the world and his own unique style. Why wasn’t he more well known? Of course he is well-known in Spain but not in the UK.
And now I’ve seen three of his films I have to say I find them to be some of the most richly entertaining films I’ve ever seen. His films are completely unpredictable, but filled with strong plots and characters, some of them verging on the grotesque. It’s not spoiling anything to say that at the end of The Last Circus, the “happy” clown is joyful and the “unhappy” clown is in tears. The events that unfold during the course of that film are the provocation for their emotional states at the end.
All the films have a strong visual sense. In his latest The Bar there is mastery right from the start in the way he economically introduces the characters as soon as the credits are over. And I love the way his films don’t pander to political correctness. He touches on conspiracies, religion, the state etc. Buried deep within his films are serious topics but you’re having so much fun that they can get lost in the mix.
All his films have strong openings: look at the start of Witching and Bitching in which a group of street artists undertake a heist. One of those artists is playing Jesus. I think only De La Iglesia could think of that. His films have ambition and he’s not afraid to take them in strange directions. Take The Bar – it starts off as a chamber piece and you think that’s how it will stay but it doesn’t, it certainly doesn’t. I’ll leave it at that.
Alex De La Iglesia’s films don’t seem to get released in the UK beyond the film festivals which is a real shame. I would have thought there was definitely a market for his films in this country, there are less commercial films that get a far wider release. I hope this post will go some way to encouraging people to seek his films out.
Meanwhile, I’m going to look for some more of his ouevre. I think it could be Perdita Durango next……