María Isabel Díaz Movies
- 2002
Directed by Orlando Rojas, Las Noches of Constantinopla (The Nights of Constantinople) follows erotic fiction writer Hernan Abascal (Liberto Rabal), his sister and aspiring songstress Cristiana (María Isabel Díaz), their Uncle Jorge (Francisco Rabal), and his illegitimate son, Pachi (Vladimir Villar). This highly repressed family is largely under the control of their grandmother, Eugenia (Veronica Lynn), who resides over the household with an iron fist. When Cristiana manages to score a singing gig, the family is eager to throw themselves back into city life. However, Hernan worries doing that will ultimately kill their grandmother, which nearly happens when she falls into a coma after learning about his risqué writing. Seemingly as soon as her head hits the hospital pillow, the Abascal household goes wild. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liberto Rabal, Veronica Lynn, (more)
- 1985
In an interesting and liberated look at individual choice free of prejudice, David (Jose Luis Alvarez) is a young high-school student who falls for a classmate, Ofelia (Maria Isabel Diaz). There is nothing unusual about teen romances, but Ofelia's plain appearance and overweight condition have taken her off the list of desirable females. David's buddies harass him over his crush on Ofelia and try to get him together with other, more attractive young women. He persists -- though why he persists is not exactly clear, since the story does not fill in enough information to account for his infatuation. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jose Luis Alvarez, María Isabel Díaz, (more)
Two sisters learn that the bonds of family don't always end after death in this gentle observational comedy drama that marks celebrated Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar's 16th feature. The story explores the interactions between three generations of women in a Spanish family. Raimunda (Penélope Cruz) was born and raised in the apocryphal village of Alcanfor de las Infantas, in La Mancha, Spain. However, she now resides in Madrid, where she works as a janitor. She is married to Paco (Antonio de la Torre), an unemployed layabout, and looks after her daughter, Paula (Yohana Cobo). Raimunda's mother, Irene (Carmen Maura), died several years back (along with her father) in a house fire. Raimunda's younger sister, Sole (Lola Dueñas), also lives in Madrid and works as a hair stylist, while their aunt Paula (Chus Lampreave) still makes her home in La Mancha, with occasional help from neighbor Agustina (Blanca Portillo). The story takes an unusual and mystical twist when Agustina mentions that Irene has begun reappearing in ghostly form -- a fact questioned by Raimunda and Sole. After a murder and an unexpected family tragedy, Paula's story is indeed corroborated by the appearance of Irene's spirit (who has come to comfort her family), and Sole must decide how to respond to the long-dead mother's strange, enchanting presence. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Penélope Cruz, Carmen Maura, (more)
