The Blind Sunflowers (film)

The Blind Sunflowers
Directed by	José Luis Cuerda
Produced by	Fernando Bovaira José Luis Cuerda Emiliano Otegui
Written by	José Luis Cuerda Rafael Azcona
Based on	The Blind Sunflowers by Alberto Méndez
Starring	Maribel Verdú Javier Cámara Raúl Arévalo Irene Escolar Martiño Rivas José Ángel Egido Roger Princep
Music by	Lucio Godoy
Cinematography	Hans Burmann
Edited by	Nacho Ruiz Capillas
Distributed by	Sogecine
Release dates	August 29, 2008 (2008-08-29)
Running time	98 minutes
Country	Spain
Language	Spanish

The Blind Sunflowers (Spanish: Los girasoles ciegos) is a 2008 Spanish film directed by José Luis Cuerda and written by Rafael Azcona and Cuerda, based on the novel The Blind Sunflowers by Alberto Méndez. The film stars Maribel Verdú, Javier Cámara and Raúl Arévalo. The plot follows the life of a family, former sympathizers of the Spanish Republic, during the early 1940s. Their lives are disrupted when a young priest falls in love with the mother. The film is set in Ourense, 1940 where a disorientated deacon, named Salvador returns to the seminary of Ourense where the Rector delays Salvador's access to priesthood for a year. Salvador begins teaching in a school where he meets with Lorenzo, the son of Elena, whom of which Salvador thinks is widowed. This opportunity multiplies with the deacon becoming obsessed with her, abusing her mentally and physically. We realise that Salvador is threatening Elena's family because of his obsession. Wounded and beaten by the circumstances, the characters of the Blind Sunflowers hit the wall of repression, impossible romances and emotional defeats, while we realise Elena's family try to search for a glimpse of hope.

This film was Spain's 81st Academy Awards official submission to Foreign Language Film category, but it was not selected.

Cast

• Maribel Verdú as Elena
• Javier Cámara as Ricardo
• Raúl Arévalo as Salvador
• Roger Príncep as Lorenzo
• José Ángel Egido as Rector
• Martín Rivas as Lalo

Accolades

• Goya Awards
  • Won: Best Screenplay – Adapted (Rafael Azcona and José Luis Cuerda)
  • Nominated: Best Actor – Leading Role (Raúl Arévalo)
  • Nominated: Best Actor – Supporting Role (José Ángel Egido)
  • Nominated: Best Actress – Leading Role (Maribel Verdú)
  • Nominated: Best Cinematography (Hans Burman)
  • Nominated: Best Costume Design (Sonia Grande)
  • Nominated: Best Director (José Luis Cuerda)
  • Nominated: Best Editing (Nacho Ruiz Capillas)
  • Nominated: Best Film
  • Nominated: Best Makeup and Hairstyles (Fermín Galán and Silvie Imbert)
  • Nominated: Best New Actor (Martín Rivas)
  • Nominated: Best Original Score (Lucio Godoy)
  • Nominated: Best Production Design (Baltasar Gallart)
  • Nominated: Best Production Supervision (Emiliano Otegui)
  • Nominated: Best Sound (Ricardo Steinberg, María Steinberg and Alfonso Raposo)

External links

• Official website
• The Blind Sunflowers at IMDb