Les amants de Teruel

Quite simply one of the most beautiful and effective fusions of different arts I have ever seen. I was at the University of Minnesota when it was programmed by the Film Society there, while its faculty adviser was Al Milgrom. The film simply flabbergasted me . Widescreen color love story with little dialogue and perhaps the finest music Mikis Theodorakis ever wrote. In his classical vein, not his Zorba mode. Simple and universal story and why it went nowhere in the USA is far beyond my power to even imagine. The dream sequence in ballet is not your standard tutu fest, and develops shockingly powerful emotions. I viewed it once and have never forgotten either it or certain images and have spent over 30 years searching, not obsessively but with reasonable regularity for its music or a copy of the film in any possible format.

Caught this gem at an art house in San Francisco, end of the N-Judah, in the fog-swept avenues. Which was so perfect for watching this film, about 1969. I was mesmerized, fell in love with Ludmilla Tcherina (who I already adored from The Red Shoes), and, like others here commenting, have been searching for it since I joined the internet in 1995! For a long time I, too, thought I had the title wrong (but knew I didn't).

I remember very little after all these years, except dark and beautiful and other-worldly. I so wish a theater-worthy copy would appear, so I could ask my local art film house to screen it. I will keep looking. And until I see it again to disprove my memory, I will continue to call this the greatest dance film I've ever seen.

There is hardly anything I can add to the already effusive comments by others at this site. This film is a painting in motion. Theodorakis' music beats in one's heart and the Dali-like dream sequence is unforgettable.

I first saw this film in Chicago in 1962 and again in New York the following year. A whole group of us sat through the film twice, and became obsessed with it.

For forty years, I have tried in vain to find the music, and later the tape of this film, but to no avail. It is never shown on TV and I have not been able to find it even in a New York art house for many years.

What a pity that a gem such as this should be unavailable. All I have of it is a 45-rpm recording of two of the films songs, but not the ballet.

There was another movie made, "Honeymoon," or "Luna de miel" in 1959 starring Ludmilla Tcherina and Anthony Steel which featured the ballet in a different setting, but, alas, that is also unavailable on tape or DVD.

I would be happy to spearhead any attempts to make the original film available on DVD if I knew who to contact. I once wrote to the French Film Office, but they never answered me.

The Lovers of Teruel is the best film I have ever seen. Saw it about 15 times. It is the kind of film one can see over and over--like a great opera. Every frame is perfectly composed. The first time I saw it, 44 years ago, I sat through it twice because of the music by Mikos Theodorakis. Great acting from the entire cast. Great story--emotionally wrenching. Usually films that have surrealistic sequences in them come off as merely hokey, but in The Lovers of Teruel those sequences really do work. I am not a dance film fan, and this film was often billed as a dance film, but the dancing is wonderful and is only part of the story. Every film I have since seen I compare to this one--and nothing has yet come close. Too bad it is not out on DVD. I saw it once on VHS. Don't bother. It is a distortion and makes the film look terrible. More than highly recommended, although where can one see it these days?

This superb film is not only a wonderful dance film but also an art film of the best kind. Much of the art direction seems to be derived from movements in the development of modern art from the first half of the twentieth century. Though I have not seen the film in a while (only three times in all)I distinctly recall scenes reminiscent of the painter deChirico as well as perhaps the blue or mauve periods of Picasso. This film is a rare jewel.

The only other film I have seen that comes close is Carlos Sauras' El Amor Brujo.