Manuel Valls Movies
- 1991
This eccentric retelling of a classic short novel by Henry James was so shabbily produced that one trade reviewer (for Variety) rather insultingly suggested that it was made solely as a means for receiving federal grant money set aside especially for the production of Catalan-language films. At least two earlier films with the same story have been made, the (1981) Aspern by Eduardo de Grigorio, and in 1973, The Aspern Affair by Burt Brinkerhoff. In the story, a famous writer has died, leaving behind a completed but unpublished manuscript, and several individuals have plans for the papers' final disposition. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvia Munt, Hermann Bonnin, (more)
- 1989
British engineer John Armstrong (Simon Casel) is sent to the island of Minorca in 1738 to map the region and give a detailed account of the history, plants, and animals. John gets on the bad side of the British governor and finds comfort from a native woman and a reclusive British female. The photography is excellent in this feature where both English and Catalan are used for the dialogue. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simon Casel, Mara Truscana, (more)
- 1989
Not surprisingly, the Spanish Estacion Central takes place in large part in a busy railroad terminal. Here is where a woman is murdered, and here is where Barcelonan photographer Feodor Atkine happens to snap a picture of the dirty deed. It would be a simple matter for the photographer to turn his evidence over to the police. Unfortunately, he has retained too many ties to too many underworld figures, and thus can't go to the cops without being suspected of the murder himself. There are several neat Hitchcock-like touches to be found in Estacion Central, most of them in the pulse-racing closing scenes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Féodor Atkine, Katarzyna Figura, (more)
