The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Films

Edited by Salvador Jiménez Murguía and Alex Pinar

Under the Franco regime (1939-1976), films produced in Spain were of poor quality, promoted the regime’s agenda, or were heavily censored. After the dictator’s death, the Spanish film industry transitioned into a new era, one in which artists were able to more freely express themselves and tackle subjects that had been previously stifled. Today, films produced in Spain are among the most highly regarded in world cinema.
The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Films features nearly 300 entries on the written by a host of international scholars and film critics. Beginning with movies released after Franco’s death, this volume documents four decades of films, directors, actresses and actors of Spanish cinema. Offering a comprehensive survey of films, the entries address such topics as art, culture, society and politics. Each includes comprehensive production details and provides brief suggestions for further reading.
Through its examination of the films of the post-Franco period, this volume offers readers valuable insights into Spanish history, politics, and culture. An indispensable guide to one of the great world cinemas, The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Films will be of interest to students, academics, and the general public alike.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 580 • Trim: 7⅜ x 10¼

978-1-4422-7132-6 • Hardback • May 2018 • $153.00 • (£119.00)

978-1-4422-7133-3 • eBook • May 2018 • $145.00 • (£112.00)

Series: National Cinemas

Subjects: Performing Arts / Film / Reference, Performing Arts / Film / General

The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Films

Hardback

eBook

Summary

Under the Franco regime (1939-1976), films produced in Spain were of poor quality, promoted the regime’s agenda, or were heavily censored. After the dictator’s death, the Spanish film industry transitioned into a new era, one in which artists were able to more freely express themselves and tackle subjects that had been previously stifled. Today, films produced in Spain are among the most highly regarded in world cinema.
The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Films features nearly 300 entries on the written by a host of international scholars and film critics. Beginning with movies released after Franco’s death, this volume documents four decades of films, directors, actresses and actors of Spanish cinema. Offering a comprehensive survey of films, the entries address such topics as art, culture, society and politics. Each includes comprehensive production details and provides brief suggestions for further reading.
Through its examination of the films of the post-Franco period, this volume offers readers valuable insights into Spanish history, politics, and culture. An indispensable guide to one of the great world cinemas, The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Films will be of interest to students, academics, and the general public alike.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 580 • Trim: 7⅜ x 10¼

978-1-4422-7132-6 • Hardback • May 2018 • $153.00 • (£119.00)

978-1-4422-7133-3 • eBook • May 2018 • $145.00 • (£112.00)

Series: National Cinemas

Subjects: Performing Arts / Film / Reference, Performing Arts / Film / General

Author

Salvador Jimenez Murguía is associate professor of sociology at Akita International University. He is the editor of The Encyclopedia of Japanese Horror Films (2016) and The Encyclopedia of Racism in American Films (2018), both published by Rowman & Littlefield.

Alex Pinar is assistant professor of Intercultural Communication and Spanish at Akita International University. His research interests are world literature, and world cinema, film adaptations, and cultural studies.

Reviews

Scholars and casual film lovers alike will find The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Films a comprehensive reference source. It is currently the only encyclopedia for the English-speaking market on the contemporary period of Spanish films (1976–2016). Arranged alphabetically by Spanish title (with English translation in parentheses) and written by contributors from all over the world, the 200 entries are in the form of essays, each two to four pages and well researched. At the top of each entry is the release date of the film, the director and author(s) of the screenplay, and specs such as running time and whether the film was shot in black-and-white or color. The entries themselves are more than just summaries. Information is given about the actors, the area of Spain in which the film takes place, and awards the film received. Also discussed is how the film reflects the changing landscape of Spanish society after the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Readers will come away with a new appreciation for films they have seen and a list of films they would like to watch in the future. Essential.
— Choice Reviews

Part of the National Cinema Series from Rowman & Littlefield, this encyclopedia focuses on Spanish films produced from 1976 to 2016. The encyclopedia’s more than three hundred entries cover the post-Franco period. It is unique in that it is geared towards the English-speaking market and in the fact that it is international in the scope of its authorship. Each entry provides the name of the film in both Spanish and English, the date, the director, the screenplay authors, and the specs. A plot synopsis is provided, along with a black-and-white photo from the film and a short bibliography. If the film won any major awards, this information is included. Two appendixes provide select biographical profiles of outstanding Spanish actors and directors and Goya Award winners from 1987 to 2017. This reference work will enhance the diversity and comprehensiveness of any college and university film studies collection.—Bradford Lee Eden
— American Reference Books Annual

Features

1/24/2019 – CHOICE Magazine featured this title in a list entitled “Editors’ Top 75 Community College Resources” in the January 2019 issue. Link: https://choice360.org/blog/the-top-75-community-college-titles-january2019-edition

Awards