La tía Tula

La Tía Tula (English: Aunt Tula) is a 1964 film Spanish film magnificently directed by Miguel Picazo . Tula , a 31-year-old unmarried woman (Aurora Bautista) , whose sister has just died , decides to care her children and she undertakes a new life and to bring her brother-in-law Ramiro (Carlos Estrada) , a bank employee into her home . As Tula , who has a spinster status , supports his brother-in-law , forgetting that she is a woman . As she takes over the management of their lives , two children and widower . She acts as a wife mother figure , but does not accept the sexual commitments or maternal responsibilities of her new role . Meanwhile , Ramiro is attracted to Tula as she dotes on his children , but she spurns his affections . She is also critical of his interest in other women . As Tula's priest advises her to marry Ramiro . When she is ready to agree , she discovers an unexpected surprise .

The film is a thought-provoking and brooding social portrayal based on the Miguel De Unamuno novella of the same title . Highly acclaimed , the film is widely considered a classic of Spanish cinema . This is an interesting film , dealing with the lives of the people in a repressed society and its consequences and after Spanish civil war , during Francisco Franco period , usual themes in Spanish Film history ; including dramatic scenes when Ramiro's sexual frustration grows and for obtaining sexual favors he attempts to rape Tula . Aurora Bautista gives a top-drawer acting as religious Aunt Tula , a woman being single and repressed who believes that she has to help her brother-in-law and gradually usurps the privileges of Ramiro and his children . Bautista was doubtlessly one of the most famous Spanish movie star of the fifties and sixties . She starred box-office titles as ¨Agustina De Aragon¨, ¨Pequeñeces¨ , ¨La Gata¨, ¨Teresa De Jesus¨, though she gave excessively theatrical acting . However , here she is top-notch in her best performance was ever given . Carlos Estrada is very good as the frustrated widower who wishes eagerly Tula , being rejected , he is then paying court to other women . Support cast is frankly extraordinary , such as : Maria Enriqueta Caballeira as Juanita , Laly Soldevila as Amalita , Irene Gutierrez Caba as Herminia , Montserrat Julió , Margarita Calahorra and José Maria Prada . Evocative cinematography in black and white by Juán Julio Baena . Atmospheric and appropriate musical score by Antonio Pérez Olea . The film was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 38th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee. It won several prizes as Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain 1965 , won CEC Award Best Film , Best Supporting Actor : José María Prada , Best Supporting Actress : Enriqueta Carballeira , Best Director : Miguel Picazo ; it won National Board of Review , USA 1966 : NBR Award Top Foreign Films ; it won San Sebastián International Film Festival 1964 , Best Spanish Language Film and won Prize San Sebastián Best Director Miguel Picazo . And National Syndicate of Spectacle, Spain 1964 it won Prize of the National Syndicate of Spectacle Best Female Star : Aurora Bautista and Sant Jordi Awards 1965 : Best Film , Miguel Picazo , and Best Performance in a Spanish Film , Aurora Bautista .

The motion picture was masterfully directed by Miguel Picazo who was born 1927 in Cazorla, Jaén and died in 2016 . He was a director and actor , especially known for ¨La Tía Tula¨ (1964), ¨Extramuros¨ (1985) and ¨Oscuros Sueños Agosto¨ (1968). He even directed to Timothy Dalton in ¨El Hombre Que Supo Amar¨ (1978) . And Picazo made a lot of of TV programmes as ¨Novela¨, ¨Los Libros¨, ¨Cronicas De Un Pueblo¨ and ¨Cuentos Y Leyendas¨ .

There is something very important to say. This movie was never released in Argentina. It was part of a cycle about New Spanish Movie far away and long ago. It is a pity because after so many years the images in black and white of that odd summer spent by Ramiro and Tula remained in your mind and it doesn't faint. The film is based upon Miguel de Unamuno's novel but director Miguel Picazo and actress Aurora Bautista -in the best performance a Spanish actress was ever given- try a new meaning for the literary text. And the repression, the wrong conception of life, the false pride and the prejudices of a woman turn a man into a tragic figure. It is not Tula the one the spectator pities. It is Ramiro -a good performance by Argentinian Carlos Estrada-. One of the Spanish movies of all time. abel posadas