Cria Cuervos (Criterion Collection)

Description

Carlos Saura's exquisite Cría cuervos… heralded a turning point in Spain: Shot while General Franco was on his deathbed, the film melds the personal and the political in a portrait of the legacy of fascism and its effects on a middle-class family (the title derives from the Spanish proverb: "Raise ravens and they'll peck out your eyes"). Ana Torrent (the dark-eyed beauty from The Spirit of the Beehive) portrays the disturbed eight-year-old Ana, living in Madrid with her two sisters and mourning the death of her mother, whom she conjures as a ghost (played by an ethereal Geraldine Chaplin). Seamlessly shifting between fantasy and reality, the film subtly evokes both the complex feelings of childhood and the struggles of a nation emerging from the shadows.

Customer Reviews:

CRIA CUERVOS... Y TE SACARÁN LOS OJOS.......2007-08-10

Finally, it appears, Criterion is getting around to releasing some of the many great Spanish films of the past decades. High time they noticed there has been some astounding Spanish films and directors beyond Luis Buñuel, undoubtedly the great master. But Saura, Berlanga, Bardem, Borau, Erice, Bigas Luna, and quite a few more I could name, have directed some masterpieces that also deserve the special Criterion teatment. After the recent and excellent release of El Espíritu de la Colmena (Spirit of the Beehive), now comes Cría Cuervos, a fascinating parable, somewhere between fantasy and reality, that beyond the too obvious symbolism of a country finally liberating itself from a long dictatorship, it is an intelligent exploration of the scary world of troubled childhood. And Ana Torrent (the same girl of Spirit of the Beehive) speaks volumes just with those incredible dark eyes. My copy is in its way, but I don't doubt Criterion transfer and worthy extras will deserve a 5-star rating.

UPDATING: Having just received my copy, I can say I am very pleased with the excellent transfer of the movie. It looks great. But I am even more impressed by the extras on the second disc:. Mainly, a wonderfully insightful portrait of Carlos Saura (more than one hour long), produced by TVE (state-run Spanish tv) in 2004 -unfortunately in a non-anamorphic widescreen transfer-, which I found as interesting as the film itself. Also a 20-minute incredibly candid and perceptive interview in English with Geraldine Chaplin (done for Criterion in 2007 susprisingly not in widescreen). I have the pleasure of interviewing the actress some years back for a Spanish publication and I knew how good and revealing she was in conversation with the press, unlike most film actors. But I was surprised by some of her intimate revelations in this one. Another 8-minute conversation with Ana Torrent shot for the Criterion Collection as well (this one in anamorphic widescree!) is also welcomed, but should have been conducted in Spanish, as the actress is no so fluent with her English.

Cria! (Raise Ravens) (Cría cuervos) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]

Average customer rating:

Absolute cinematic classic

Cria! (Raise Ravens) (Cría cuervos) [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]
Director: Carlos Saura
Manufacturer: Manga Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FMPHTM

Product Description

Spain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Subtitles), WIDESCREEN (1.66:1), SYNOPSIS: In haunting memories, a woman relives the disturbing summer of her father´s death. Outside her father´s bedroom door, the nine-year-old Ana hears him making love to his best friend´s wife, then take his last gasp of breath. When, years earlier, her mother died of cancer, Ana blamed her father; now she blames herself for his demise. In Saura´s compelling vision of the child´s world, past and present blend imperceptibly. Fantasy and reality become one as dead characters take their place beside the living. Cria! is graced by two remarkable actresses: Ana Torrent (The Spirit of the Beehive) as the guilt-ridden girl and Geraldine Chaplin (Peppermint Frappe) as both the grown-up Ana and her deceased mother. SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Filmographies,

Customer Reviews:

Absolute cinematic classic.......2007-02-21

For anyone who is looking for this film, this is the definitive DVD version as far as i know. I believe this is the official Spainish DVD. The qulity is excellent, no faults. You do need a multi-regional DVD player if you're in the US or not in Region 2.

This film should be better known because it's a classic and a masterpiece. It should be shown in Cinema classes, or at least Spanish cinema. Anyone who enjoyed Ana Torrent in "Spirit of the Beehive" will definetely enjoy her in this performance, she does not look much older, but a little. She does more things, feels more emotions and has a much more developed character - IMO. This movie is deep, and shot in a very creative style. The script is perfect. Anyway, this film is incredible. Very highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Dios los Cria
Starring: Alicia Encinas , Vicente Fernandez , Monica Prado , Carlos Riquelme , and Maria Carolina Salome
Manufacturer: Laguna Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000AJJNCM
Release Date: 2004-02-16

Average customer rating:

Question about item
Bootlegged NTSC TV shot with a blurred lens
Another gullible consumer
WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!!
available elsewhere as a licensed DVD

Cria
Starring: Geraldine Chaplin , and Ana Torrent
Director: Carlos Saura
Manufacturer: Miracle Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000278Y68
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Customer Reviews:

Question about item .......2007-03-18

I have not opened the DVD and did not no how to contact you. It says it is dubbed in spanish which I do not understand because it is a spanish made film. So I have been concerned about opening it to see if actully is dubbed or the authentic actors speaking. Do you recommend I open it to see of would you rather I just return it? Please let me know. I have rated this item as 5 stars because this program insists I give it a rating. I am certain it is in perfect condition just uncertain if it is what I want or need as I use movied to teach culture in my Spanish classes. Thank you,
Linda

Bootlegged NTSC TV shot with a blurred lens.......2006-06-13

I agree with the other reviewers about the awful quality of this DVD. They didn't mention the high noise floor and bathroom resonance of the sound track.

Another gullible consumer.......2006-04-20

I too was duped by this incredibly poor quality, obviously bootlegged copy of Cria! I was excited by the possiblity of a DVD version of this wonderful film, but it certainly was too good to be true, thanks to "Miracle Pictures" whoever they are. I really wish I had taken the time to read the reviews before purchasing. I won't make that mistake twice.

I am shocked that Amazon should still be selling such an item, with complaints dating back as far as 2004. PLEASE TAKE IT OFF YOUR CATALOGUE. Someone should do something to prevent this trade in such garbage.

PS. I had to give this 1 star, but really I give it a big 0.

WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!!.......2006-03-27

I had long looked forward to seeing this superb Spanish movie on DVD. "Cria" {1976} is a masterpiece in the political movie genre, a telling critique of the baleful effects of Franco's Fascist regime on Spanish society as seen through the eyes of a little girl. Ana Torrent, at only age 9, delivers one of the best performances by a child actor I have ever seen.

But who is responsible for this cheap, amaterish DVD production? It is much worse than the 1988 VHS edition, with washed-out and grainy textures and with the subtitles virtually unreadable.

It is a disaster. Carlos Saura-the writer-director, Ana Torrent and the other excellent makers and performers of this great movie deserve so much better.

Maybe Criterion will sometime give this great movie the care and attention it deserves, like they did recently for the great 1952 French film "Forbidden Games".

Blaine in Seattle.

available elsewhere as a licensed DVD.......2005-12-14

A Region 2/PAL DVD with removable English subtitles, and excellent picture quality, is available from many sellers in Europe under the Spanish title "Cría Cuervos". DVDGO is one such seller, find them via your favorite search engine. Don't settle for a terrible quality bootleg.

Average customer rating:

Dios los Cria
Starring: Su Carnal Marcelo , Nini Marshall , Ramon Valdez , Elvira Lodi , and Celia Viveros
Manufacturer: Laguna Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BEZR3K
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Average customer rating:

Cría Cuervos [Region 2 Import - Spain]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000I3QFAI

The Spirit Of The Beehive [NON-US Format, Pal, Region2, Import - Great Britain]

Average customer rating:

Superb Cinematography, Artistic & Creative

The Spirit Of The Beehive [NON-US Format, Pal, Region2, Import - Great Britain]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Region 2 encoding (Europe, Japan, South Africa and the Middle East(including Egypt).
Requires multi-system DVD player in the US.

ASIN: 8373615865

Product Description

Widely regarded as a masterpiece of Spanish cinema, this allegorical tale is set in a remote village in the 1940s. The life in the village is calm and uneventful -- an allegory of Spanish life after General Franco's victory in the Spanish Civil War. While their father (Fernando Fernán Gómez) studies bees in his beehive and their mother (Teresa Gimpera) writes letters to a non-existent correspondent, two young girls, Ana (Ana Torrent) and Isabel (Isabel Telleria), go to see James Whale's Frankenstein at a local cinema. Though they can hardly understand the concept, both girls are deeply impressed with the moment when a little girl gives a flower to the monster. Isabel, the older sister, tells Ana that the monster actually exists as a spirit that you can't see unless you know how to approach him. Ana starts wandering around the countryside in search of the kind creature. Instead, she meets an army deserter, who is hiding in a barn. The film received critical accolades for its subtle and masterful use of cinematic language and the expressive performance of the young Ana Torrent.

Customer Reviews:

Superb Cinematography, Artistic & Creative.......2006-04-14

This film is based on some interesting phenomenon that occurred during a specific historical time in Spain, just prior to World War II. The beginning scene is idyllic and peaceful, where Fernando is tending beehives. The fact that there is no musical accompaniment, just the sounds of nature and life makes the film more unique, a tad eerie and very remarkable, creating emotional expectations and a depth that is subtle but very intense. The best acting is by Ana, a young girl about 6 years of age. She is perfectly cast in her role. Her innocence and charm are real and natural. Everyone who views her will return to aspects of their own childhood on certain levels. The innocent times when, no matter what happened, life was good, the world was new, exciting and filled with first discoveries. In this film ... one comes to expect ... a certain awakening or shocking event ... something surprising with a huge emotional impact ... coming out of the clear blue.

The family lives in a two story stone villa that looks almost like a mansion except for the stones which look hewn from the local soil, despite the large iron gate, there is an earthiness to the building. It has an overly large foyer ... The second level is where the family lives. Ana and her sister, Isabel who is about 10 or 11 years old share a bedroom which has single twin beds in a lovely room furnished with antiques. Fernando has a study, there is no electricity, he uses oil lamps and candles. He has marvelous big wooden bookcases and a huge desk where he writes poetic lyrical verse about his beehives which he lovingly tends. The beehive may be the metaphor for their lives in a subtle sort of way.

The camera slowly rolls over stone buildings and dirt roads in the nearby village where one building is used as a movie theater. There is excitement in the air when an old truck pulls up which delivers this weeks film. Inside, adults set up wooden chairs, outside the children excitedly ask the driver whether the film is good. He reassures them, it is the best. The camera is used effectively to film the faces of many villagers of different ages ... people who work hard, they are simple but dignified, ready to view the film of the week, one of the few sources of entertainment in the town. As the film starts, there is an introduction by an announcer who advocates the miraculous discoveries of science and compares that with the creation of life by God. Yet in this film, a scientist did just that, brought to life a man-like creature he had made. Ana is fascinated by the monster, who is given a flower by a littl girl in the film but we learn later, the monster named Frankenstein killed the girl. Ana puzzles over why he did this as clearly the little girl liked him as she handed him the freshly picked flowers in her hand.

At bed time Ana can not get the film out of her mind and discusses Frankenstein and his behavior with Isabel. Isabel fabricates a story that satisfies Ana by stating Frankenstein is a spirit who can take on a body if human beings pray and sincerely believe in him, somehow twisting their religious beliefs to make this seem plausbible. Only those who truly have faith can do this. From this point forward, Ana wants to conjure up a spirit with a body and Isabel takes her to an abandoned old stone building far out in the fields, telling her a spirit lives there who might appear in bodily form if Ana believes strongly enough in him. Ana is shown to visit this farmhouse often ... alone ... looking down the well and walking around the building ... Until one day, she does find a man inside the building - fulfilling Isabel's story ... What happens afterwards,for good or bad needs to be viewed to be appreciated. The artistry and beauty of the film are beyond word descriptions at this point.

On some levels the family seems disconnected, the children do not often interact with the parents, surprisingly not even with the mother which seems unnatural. There are scenes where the family is eating and amazingly everyone at the table is silent, except for the sounds of eating. The sisters giggle and communicate with smiles and body language as children often do. Isabel pulls a trick on Ana pertaining to Frankenstein. It is heart-stopping and gut-wrenching but just what children often do. Amazing but the parents are nowhere nearby when this occurs.

Sadly, at times the creative subtle artistic approach obscures the intentions of the director; they are totally lost on the viewer ... Fernando, the father takes the girls on an outing to pick mushroom, he points out which are edible and which ones are poisonous. Toward the end, the whole town gets involved in the actions related to something that happens to Ana ... I will leave the reader to ponder what that might be hopefully there is enough information in this review to entice the reader to want to view this film. This is a highly recommended film, somewhat more complicated than it should be however appreciation for its beauty grows on the viewer long after it is viewed.
Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Average customer rating:

Cría Cuervos

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Carmen (Multi-language Edition) [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]

Average customer rating:

Carmen (Multi-language Edition) [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]
Director: Carlos Saura
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Main Language: Spanish
Subtitles:
Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish

ASIN: B000TBW8SW

Product Description

Please note that this DVD Set is in PAL, Region 2 format and will not play on most North American DVD players. ------------------------------------ Synopsis: Director Carlos Saura's Carmen develops a fictional story revolving around the rehearsals of Georges Bizet's opera about the brash and colorful cigarette factory woman and her dalliance with the soldier Don José, and eventual love for Escamillo, the bullfighter. Saura introduces exciting flamenco dance scenes and a love story between Antonio (Antonio Gades), the choreographer of the opera, and the actress playing Carmen, Laura del Sol. Joan Sutherland and Paco de Lucía also perform segments from Bizet's 1875 opera. The mix of magical choreography, rousing flamenco dances, and operatic insertions as well as the tongue-in-cheek parodies of the French opera and foreign stereotypes of Spaniards keeps most viewers well entertained throughout. Saura's Carmen won an award for "Artistic Contribution" and for "Technical Achievement" at the Cannes Film Festival in 1983, another award for "Technical Achievement" at the 1983 Venice Film Festival, and the "Best Foreign Language Film" award at the 1984 British Academy Awards. It was the second in a trilogy of films choreographed in a similar style by Antonio Gades.

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