Antonio Ferrandis Movies

Behind the peaceful walls of an impoverished medieval Spanish convent lies a teeming hotbed of ambition, lies and double-crossing as can be seen in this powerful, thought-provoking drama that is based upon Jesus Fernandez Santos' novel. The convent is set in an arid area and sole support comes from the local duke. The plague has been ravaging the surrounding town and panicky residents who are not yet afflicted flee. Sister Angela becomes ill and is nursed by her devoted friend Sister Ana. Angela slowly gets stronger and as she does, she begins reading about the lives of the saints. She begins to believe that the only way to save the decimated village from further chaos is to host a miracle. Sister Angela then has Sister Ana make deep slices into her palms to look like stigmata. The townsfolk believe that Angela's hands are bleeding spontaneously, but the mother superior isn't so sure and sets out to prove the miracle a fake. She can't and the villagers begin to revere Sister Angela as a saint. The mother superior can't bear this, and when Sister Angela is elected the new prioress, she goes over the edge with her desire for revenge. Things get even worse when the duke shows up and promises to give the convent enough support to make them one of the most powerful in Spain if they will host his daughter, who is thinking about joining the nunnery. Unfortunately, the haughty young woman is more interested in running things her own way. The deposed mother superior conspires with her at every opportunity, and when Sister Angela's palms suddenly becoming dangerously infected, the prioress finally gets her chance for revenge. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

While searching about for their next "job," two unprofessional thieves hit on the scheme of kidnapping someone important for the ransom money. One of their confederates gets them to consider kidnapping a retired butcher. Imagine their chagrin when they discover that the butcher has no "official" money to be ransomed with, and that more than likely their confederate had them kidnap him for revenge. Now that he has disappeared, of course the police are called in to investigate. They discover piles of embezzled money and a plane ticket to another country among his possessions. It begins to look as though the kidnappers (who can barely support themselves) are stuck with him! ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Woodsman Tony Ferrandis, already a bit around the bend, is completely unhinged by his solitude. When beautiful Ellie MacLure ventures into the forest, she is kidnapped by Ferrandis. He wastes no time expressing his intentions, raping her repeatedly and submitting her to mental torture. In 1965, director William Wyler told a story similar to this in The Collector (1965). But whereas Wyler's film had artistic merit (and no rapes), Heat of the Flame has no further purpose beyond gratuitous nudity and violence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Chosen by the leaders of his political party to stand for election, in this satire, Gundisalvo is a building developer with next to no interest in politics. He prefers eating well and making love with his mistress to the hurly-burly of campaigning. Still, duty is duty, and he methodically practices his cliche-filled speeches at home, at first afflicting his maid and butler with them and later reciting them to groups gathered on the street who are paid to listen. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Three booze-soaked near-derelicts have a series of macabre adventures on the day when one of them was supposed to report to his new job at the mine, located near their northern Spanish town. Set at the end of the 19th century, and based on A Esmorga by Eduardo Balnacoamer, this story follows the trio on the bender to end all benders. The fellow with a new job is waylaid by his buddies who haul him off to a local bar. There, they get into a fight and wind up knifing a miner. They escape over the wall of a nobleman's villa, and have several strange adventures before settling down peaceably for a late-night drink. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Based on a novel by Jose Cruset, and packed with violence and riotousness, this film tells the story of a humanitarian bookseller in 16th-century Granada who manages to open Spain's first mental institution. The story takes place several generations after the expulsion of the Jews and Moors from Spain. Juan de Dios (Timothy Dalton), after experiencing and witnessing brutalities visited upon the people of Spain, vows to spend his life helping others. In fulfillment of his vow, he faces down the Inquisition and suffers greatly. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

In this Spanish melodrama, set in post-Civil War times, Don Raul (Antonio Ferrandis) is entranced by his shell-shocked brother's daughter, Andrea (Maribel Martin). He blackmails her into having sex with him under the threat that he will have her father committed to an insane asylum. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide