Alejandro Doria
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Doria was a noted Argentine cinema and television director.
in 1936, he first worked for Argentine television in 1965 as a writer for a local variety show
, Show rambler.
He first directed professionally for Adorable Professor Aldao, a 1968 romantic comedy
series.
Doria's contract to direct the 1969 season of a top-rated sitcom, Nuestra galleguita (Our Galician Girl), secured his career in Argentine television, and he directed numerous series during the early 1970s and was a guest producer for Alta Comedia (a comedy showcase)several times.
Doria first directed for the cinema in 1974. The political satire
by José Dominiani, Proceso a la infamia (Infamy on Trial), ran afoul of the newly-appointed National Film Rater, Miguel Paulino Tato, however. Unable to work professionally for four years, Doria obtained his film's release in 1978, though the new, heavily-edited version was panned by its audiences and director, alike. In demand following his long absence, Doria directed two thrillers in 1979: a film adaptation of Marco Denevi
's Contragolpe
(Retribution), and of Aída Bortnik
's La isla
. Collaborating with Bortnik on La islas screenplay, the psychological thriller earned Doria a special mention at the Montreal World Film Festival
. He wrote and directed one of the few well-known horror titles in Argentine film, Los miedos
(Fears), in 1980, and in 1982, directed a film adaptation of Silvina Bullrich
's best-selling Los Pasajeros del jardín (Wanderers in the Garden) - Bullrich's nostalgic, autobiographical look at her happy and all-too-brief second marriage.
The return of democracy
in Argentina in 1983 was accompanied by a revival in local film and theatre production. Doria and Uruguayan
screenwriter Jacobo Langsner wrote a script based on a concept created by another Uruguayan artist, veteran leading lady China Zorrilla
. Their drama, Darse cuenta (Realization), was a critical and commercial success in 1984.
Doria and Langsner were then reunited for the making of Esperando la carroza (Waiting for the Hearse). The 1985 black comedy
looked at a typical Argentine family and their struggles with each other and their mischievous, nonagenarian matriarch. The film became a cult classic
, though another director's sequel written by Langsner and released in 2009 was unsuccessful.
Doria and Langsner then turned to recent history in Argentina with Sofia. The 1987 tragedy dealt with a chance encounter and a May-December love affair amid the oppressive Dirty War
against dissidents. The harrowing portrayal, however, received little notice. Doria returned to the family comedy
genre in 1990 with Cien veces no debo (I Don't Owe 100 Times Over) - a comedy of errors revolving around bad news for a neurotic, middle-class family. Doria then returned to television, directing a number of soap operas and a segment in an episodic homage to the victims of the 1994 AMIA bombing
(the worst terrorist attack in Argentine history).
His reputation as a leading filmmaker in Argentine cinema was restored with the 2006 release of Las manos (The Hands) a bio-pic on the life of Father Mario Pantaleo
, an Argentine priest who incurred the Vatican
's wrath following reports he possessed healing hands. The drama earned numerous prizes in Argentina and in prestigious international film festivals, notably the Huelva Latin American Film Festival and Cartagena Film Festival
. Doria more recently directed Doce horas (12 Hours) and Tuya (Yours), titles scheduled for release in 2010. Pneumonia
cost the filmmaker his life on June 17, 2009, however, at age 72.
Life and work
Born in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
in 1936, he first worked for Argentine television in 1965 as a writer for a local variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
, Show rambler.
He first directed professionally for Adorable Professor Aldao, a 1968 romantic comedy
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
series.
Doria's contract to direct the 1969 season of a top-rated sitcom, Nuestra galleguita (Our Galician Girl), secured his career in Argentine television, and he directed numerous series during the early 1970s and was a guest producer for Alta Comedia (a comedy showcase)several times.
Doria first directed for the cinema in 1974. The political satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
by José Dominiani, Proceso a la infamia (Infamy on Trial), ran afoul of the newly-appointed National Film Rater, Miguel Paulino Tato, however. Unable to work professionally for four years, Doria obtained his film's release in 1978, though the new, heavily-edited version was panned by its audiences and director, alike. In demand following his long absence, Doria directed two thrillers in 1979: a film adaptation of Marco Denevi
Marco Denevi
Marco Denevi was an Argentine award-winning author of novels and short stories, as well as a lawyer and journalist. His work is characterized by its originiality and depth, as well as a criticism of human incompetence. His first work, a mystery called Rosaura a las diez , was a Kraft award...
's Contragolpe
Contragolpe
Contragolpe is a 1979 Argentine drama film directed by Alejandro Doria.-Cast:*Marcelo Alfaro ... Gigolo 1*Enrique Alonso*Alberto Argibay*Raúl Aubel*Aldo Barbero*Sergio Bellotti*Héctor Bidonde*Luisina Brando*Rodolfo Brindisi*Cecilia Cenci...
(Retribution), and of Aída Bortnik
Aída Bortnik
Aída Bortnik is an Argentine screenwriter, nominated for an Academy Award for her work in the film La historia oficial .- Career :...
's La isla
The Island (1979 film)
The Island is an Argentine film directed by Alejandro Doria, released on 1979....
. Collaborating with Bortnik on La islas screenplay, the psychological thriller earned Doria a special mention at the Montreal World Film Festival
Montreal World Film Festival
The Montreal World Film Festival , founded in 1977, is one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF...
. He wrote and directed one of the few well-known horror titles in Argentine film, Los miedos
Los Miedos
Los Miedos is a 1980 Argentine film....
(Fears), in 1980, and in 1982, directed a film adaptation of Silvina Bullrich
Silvina Bullrich
Silvina Bullrich was a best-selling Argentine novelist, as well as an accomplished journalist, translator and screenwriter.-Life and work:...
's best-selling Los Pasajeros del jardín (Wanderers in the Garden) - Bullrich's nostalgic, autobiographical look at her happy and all-too-brief second marriage.
The return of democracy
Argentine general election, 1983
The Argentine general election of 1983 was held on 30 October and marked the return of Democracy after the 1976's dictatorship self-known as National Reorganization Process...
in Argentina in 1983 was accompanied by a revival in local film and theatre production. Doria and Uruguayan
Cinema of Uruguay
The Cinema of Uruguay has a role in the Culture of Uruguay. The industry has many actors and directors that made the Uruguayan cinema a part of Latin American cinema.-The early days:...
screenwriter Jacobo Langsner wrote a script based on a concept created by another Uruguayan artist, veteran leading lady China Zorrilla
China Zorrilla
China Zorrilla is an award-winning Uruguayan theater, film and television actress....
. Their drama, Darse cuenta (Realization), was a critical and commercial success in 1984.
Doria and Langsner were then reunited for the making of Esperando la carroza (Waiting for the Hearse). The 1985 black comedy
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
looked at a typical Argentine family and their struggles with each other and their mischievous, nonagenarian matriarch. The film became a cult classic
Cult Classic
Cult Classic is a Blue Öyster Cult studio recording released in 1994, containing remakes of many of the band's previous hits.-Track listing:# " The Reaper" - 5:05# "E.T.I...
, though another director's sequel written by Langsner and released in 2009 was unsuccessful.
Doria and Langsner then turned to recent history in Argentina with Sofia. The 1987 tragedy dealt with a chance encounter and a May-December love affair amid the oppressive Dirty War
Dirty War
The Dirty War was a period of state-sponsored violence in Argentina from 1976 until 1983. Victims of the violence included several thousand left-wing activists, including trade unionists, students, journalists, Marxists, Peronist guerrillas and alleged sympathizers, either proved or suspected...
against dissidents. The harrowing portrayal, however, received little notice. Doria returned to the family comedy
Family film
A family film is a film genre that is designed to appeal to a variety of age groups and, thus, families.In December 2005, Steven Spielberg's 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial came first in a poll of the 100 Greatest Family Films. The genre today generates billions of dollars per annum.Family...
genre in 1990 with Cien veces no debo (I Don't Owe 100 Times Over) - a comedy of errors revolving around bad news for a neurotic, middle-class family. Doria then returned to television, directing a number of soap operas and a segment in an episodic homage to the victims of the 1994 AMIA bombing
AMIA Bombing
The AMIA bombing was an attack on the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina building in Buenos Aires on July 18, 1994, that killed 85 people and injured hundreds. It was Argentina's deadliest bombing...
(the worst terrorist attack in Argentine history).
His reputation as a leading filmmaker in Argentine cinema was restored with the 2006 release of Las manos (The Hands) a bio-pic on the life of Father Mario Pantaleo
Mario Pantaleo
José Mario Pantaleo was an Italian priest who lived most of his life in Argentina. He is known as Padre Mario...
, an Argentine priest who incurred the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
's wrath following reports he possessed healing hands. The drama earned numerous prizes in Argentina and in prestigious international film festivals, notably the Huelva Latin American Film Festival and Cartagena Film Festival
Cartagena Film Festival
The Cartagena Film Festival, or Festival Internacional de Cine y T.V. de Cartagena de Indias. is a Colombian film festival which focuses on the promotion of Colombian television programs, Latin American films, and videos...
. Doria more recently directed Doce horas (12 Hours) and Tuya (Yours), titles scheduled for release in 2010. Pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
cost the filmmaker his life on June 17, 2009, however, at age 72.
Director
- Las manos (2006)
- 18-J18-J18-j is a 2004 Argentine docudrama. The motion picture is a collection of ten, ten-minute shorts, by ten Argentine directors. The film focuses on the July 18, 1994 bombing of the AMIA Building in Buenos Aires, where 86 people were killed and 300 others wounded. The perpetrators were never caught...
(2004) - Cien veces no debo (1990)
- SofíaSofiaSofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
(1987) - Esperando la carroza (1985)
- Darse cuenta (1984)
- Los Pasajeros del jardín (1982)
- Los miedosLos MiedosLos Miedos is a 1980 Argentine film....
(1980) - La isla (1979)
- ContragolpeContragolpeContragolpe is a 1979 Argentine drama film directed by Alejandro Doria.-Cast:*Marcelo Alfaro ... Gigolo 1*Enrique Alonso*Alberto Argibay*Raúl Aubel*Aldo Barbero*Sergio Bellotti*Héctor Bidonde*Luisina Brando*Rodolfo Brindisi*Cecilia Cenci...
(1979) - Proceso a la infamiaProceso a la infamiaProceso a la infamia aka Los Años Infames is a 1974 Argentine film directer by Alejandro Doria....
(1974)