Maria Luisa Bemberg Movies
Argentine screenwriter/director Maria Luisa Bemberg did not begin her career until after she had raised her family and divorced her husband -- she did so to give herself a chance to grow personally and to express her feminist concerns. She began by writing screenplays for other directors. She then financed her first two projects with her own money. All of her work has focused upon women and the difficulties they face within a patriarchial society. This has sometimes caused conflict within the government, especially during the military dictatorship that ruled from the late 1970s to 1983. In all of her films, Bemberg worked with executive producer Lita Stantic. Her most famous film is her third, Camilia (1984), which centered around the love affair between a girl and a parish priest.Though she died in 1995, her final film credit, as a screenwriter, is for El Impostor, a drama directed by Alejandro Maci that is based on an unfinished novel and screenplay she was working on before her death. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1997
This drama is based on a novel and incomplete screenplay by the late Maria Luis Bemberg. In 1930s Argentina, wealthy Sebastian (Antonio Birabent) leaves his Buenos Aires home for the family estate on the pampas. His family, concerned for his physical and mental health, arranges for Sebastian's childhood friend Juan (Walter Quiroz) to check on Sebastian's situation. Juan finds the highly erratic Sebastian caught in a doomed relationship with the Danish daughter of religious sect members. Unfortunately, Juan also becomes obsessed with the young woman, and Sebastian's suspicions increase. Shown in 1997 at both the Toronto Film Festival and the AFI/Los Angeles Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Antonio Birabent, Walter Quiroz, (more)
- 1994
In this oddball comedy, the village Grande Dame tries to find a suitable husband so she can take good care of her daughter, a dwarf. The story is set in an Argentine village during the 1940's. Though her daughter, Charlotte, is a little person, the highly respected Leonor wants her to have a normal, happy life. At the same time, she does not wish to tarnish her public standing in the tiny town. She looks for a husband. The most promising prospect is Ludovico, a handsome bachelor desired by all the town single women. As he frequently visits her home and spends a lot of time with Charlotte, Leonor hopes he will marry her. She is sorely disappointed when it turns out that Ludovico is really interested in her daughter. Charlotte and Ludovico marry. They lead a happy fulfilling life until the circus comes to town. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marcello Mastroianni, Luisina Brando, (more)
Sister Juana (Assumpta Serna) is a gentle poet and a none-too-pious nun, living in seventeenth-century Mexico. She is protected by the Governor and his wife from a ferociously misogynistic Archbishop, who some believe is using his hatred of women to hide from his very powerful lust for them. Indeed, it is possible that he is the actual father of Sister Juana. Regardless of that, her life becomes extremely grim when her loving patrons return to Spain, leaving her to the not-so-tender mercies of this harsh man. This difficult story is based on a novel by the award-winning poet and writer Octavio Paz. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Assumpta Serna, Dominique Sanda, (more)
- 1986
- R
In this drama about women living in a repressive society, Julie Christie plays Miss Mary Mulligan, a governess who has taken on a job with a wealthy Argentinian family in 1938. Her charges are the teens Caroline (Sofia Viruboff), Johnny (Donald McIntire), and the younger Teresa (Barbara Bunge). The father is a patriarch who believes in old-fashioned religion that keeps women in their places, several notches below the level of men. While Miss Mary espouses a highly conservative stance herself, it is clear that she is frustrated and feeling just a little isolated. None of the women in the drama fare very well at the hands of the society around them, and one transgression on the part of Miss Mary has unhappy consequences for more than herself alone. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julie Christie, Sofia Viruboff, (more)
Camila O'Gorman (Susan Peccaro) is the daughter of an influential 19th century Argentine diplomat (Hector Alterio). Ladislao Gutierez (Imanol Arias) is a Jesuit priest, also living in Argentina. Tortured by her so-called impure thoughts, Camila confesses these to Gutierez. Flouting tradition, convention, and the repressive Rosas political regime, Camila and the priest embark on a torrid affair. Based on a true story, the Spanish/Argentine co-production Camila was honored with a Best Foreign Film Oscar nomination. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susú Pecoraro, Héctor Alterio, (more)
When a wife with two children discovers that her husband has been having an affair with another woman, she is so deeply wounded that she leaves home, will not talk to him again, and refuses to accept her mother's advice that she reconcile with the unfaithful spouse. Her world, as she had known it, has ended and now she drifts for awhile, trying to find a new place for herself, while still seeing her mother and children. Her quest begins to bear fruit when she meets a gay man at a therapy session and they become fast friends. She also finds a temporary home at the apartment of a happy-go-lucky roommate who has a "revolving door" stream of boyfriends. The woman slowly starts to edge out of her depression, gets a job, and starts having a relationship or two again. She goes so far as to spend an afternoon with her husband at a secluded rendezvous, and while seemingly torn between her old existence or a new, independent life, after that moment with her husband, she changes for good. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Luisina Brando, Julio Chaves, (more)
- 1980
While touring Israel, Anne, a Frenchwoman, meets Yola, a female Israeli film director. The two become friends, and decide to spend some time at a resort together. Despite the fact that both also have boyfriends, their attraction becomes sensual in nature. Yola's boyfriend visits them at this time, and the three end up in bed together. Fearful that her boyfriend will be more attracted to Anne than to her, she breaks off her affair with her. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Graciela Dufau, Miguel Ángel Solá, (more)
- 1975
Love does not conquer all in this romantic melodrama. Laura (Thelma Biral) is an upper-class beauty, married comfortably but boringly to Felipe (Federico Luppi). Her young lover Martin (Juan Jose Camero) tries to persuade her to leave the marriage and enter a love-union with him, but to no avail. Similarly, Felipe finds real love with Sandra (Graciela Borges) a young, free-spirited model/photographer, but Laura cunningly brings him back under her thumb. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Graciela Borges, Thelma Biral, (more)
- 1971
Shocked into lethargy by the suicide death of her friend, Fina, an aristocratic Argentine now casts a critical eye on the activities she used to enjoy. Cocktail parties, polo matches, and dinner parties pall. However, her eye is agreeably drawn to a virile young artist, who soon thereafter becomes her lover. Her mother is shocked by her behavior, while her husband simply shrugs it off. Fina wants something more out of life than luxury, and she leaves her elegant family home to live with the young man in his poor surroundings. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
