Little Ashes
Encyclopedia
Little Ashes is a 2008 Spanish
-British
drama film
, set against the backdrop of Spain
during the 20s and 30s, as three of the era's most creative young talents meet at university and set off on a course to change their world. Luis Buñuel
watches helplessly as the friendship between Salvador Dalí
and the poet Federico García Lorca
develops into a love affair.
(Robert Pattinson
) arrives at university in Madrid
. The Residencia de Estudiantes
, or Students' Residence, is a modern environment which encourages Spain's brightest young minds. Salvador, who is determined to become a great artist, soon catches the attention of the Resi's social elite – poet Federico García Lorca
(Javier Beltran
) and aspiring filmmaker Luis Buñuel
(Matthew McNulty
). Together they form the nucleus of the most modern group in Madrid.
Their private lives become increasingly complex as Federico ignores the advances of devoted friend and writer Magdalena (Marina Gatell), and Salvador himself feels the pull of García Lorca's magnetism. Luis, becoming increasingly isolated by the duo's closeness, decides to move to Paris to fulfil his own artistic ambitions. Meanwhile, Salvador and Federico leave Madrid to spend the summer at the seaside village of Cadaques
, at the home of Dalí's family.
Federico finds himself accepted into the Dalí family as he and Salvador grow closer until, one night, their friendship becomes romantic. Even as they draw closer, their relationship appears doomed. Luis visits them at university and becomes more suspicious and appalled by their apparent closeness.
Dalí finds García Lorca's obsession with him more than he is prepared to handle and moves to Paris. Consumed by the high society and decadence, Dalí is soon entangled with Gala
(Arly Jover
) a married woman with a penchant for celebrities. When García Lorca visits, he finds his friend is a changed man, in his life and his politics.
Dalí stated:
Writer Philippa Goslett supposes:
Biographer of both Dali and Lorca, Ian Gibson, stated:
in London. The sold-out screening was scheduled on 7 October 2008 at 19:00. A second screening was also added for the 8th of October at 14:30. Little Ashes premiered in the U.S. at the Miami Gay & Lesbian film festival. Fans built in depth websites like The Little Ashes Promo Blitz and started grassroots efforts to get theaters to play the movie. On May 8, 2009 it premiered in only 11 US locations.
was released on July 13, 2009 and is rated 15. The US DVD was released on January 26, 2010.
for "Outstanding Film - Limited Release" during the 21st GLAAD Media Awards
.
Cinema of Spain
The art of motion-picture making within the nation of Spain or by Spanish filmmakers abroad is collectively known as Spanish Cinema.In recent years, Spanish cinema has achieved high marks of recognition as a result of its creative and technical excellence...
-British
Cinema of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has had a major influence on modern cinema. The first moving pictures developed on celluloid film were made in Hyde Park, London in 1889 by William Friese Greene, a British inventor, who patented the process in 1890. It is generally regarded that the British film industry...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
, set against the backdrop of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
during the 20s and 30s, as three of the era's most creative young talents meet at university and set off on a course to change their world. Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
watches helplessly as the friendship between Salvador Dalí
Salvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
and the poet Federico García Lorca
Federico García Lorca
Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27. He is believed to be one of thousands who were summarily shot by anti-communist death squads...
develops into a love affair.
Plot
In 1922, 18-year old Salvador DalíSalvador Dalí
Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain....
(Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson
Robert Douglas Thomas Pattinson is an English actor, model, musician, and producer. Born and raised in London, Pattinson started out his career by playing the role of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...
) arrives at university in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. The Residencia de Estudiantes
Residencia de estudiantes
The Residencia de Estudiantes, literally the "Student Residence", is one of the original Spanish cultural centers in Madrid, Spain. During the first half of the twentieth century, the Residence was a prestigious cultural institution that helped foster and create the intellectual environment of...
, or Students' Residence, is a modern environment which encourages Spain's brightest young minds. Salvador, who is determined to become a great artist, soon catches the attention of the Resi's social elite – poet Federico García Lorca
Federico García Lorca
Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27. He is believed to be one of thousands who were summarily shot by anti-communist death squads...
(Javier Beltran
Javier Beltrán
Javier Beltrán Andreu is a Spanish film and theatre actor.Beltrán pursued his studies in Barcelona, which included a four-year humanities course at Pompeu Fabra University. He later studied dramatic arts, dance-theatre course and acting...
) and aspiring filmmaker Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
(Matthew McNulty
Matthew McNulty
Matthew McNulty is an English actor of film and television.-Film:*Geography of the Hapless Heart as Jamie*Messengers 2: The Scarecrow as Deputy Milton...
). Together they form the nucleus of the most modern group in Madrid.
Their private lives become increasingly complex as Federico ignores the advances of devoted friend and writer Magdalena (Marina Gatell), and Salvador himself feels the pull of García Lorca's magnetism. Luis, becoming increasingly isolated by the duo's closeness, decides to move to Paris to fulfil his own artistic ambitions. Meanwhile, Salvador and Federico leave Madrid to spend the summer at the seaside village of Cadaques
Cadaqués
Cadaqués is a town in the Alt Empordà comarca, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. It is on a bay in the middle of the Cap de Creus peninsula, near Cap de Creus cape, on the Costa Brava of the Mediterranean...
, at the home of Dalí's family.
Federico finds himself accepted into the Dalí family as he and Salvador grow closer until, one night, their friendship becomes romantic. Even as they draw closer, their relationship appears doomed. Luis visits them at university and becomes more suspicious and appalled by their apparent closeness.
Dalí finds García Lorca's obsession with him more than he is prepared to handle and moves to Paris. Consumed by the high society and decadence, Dalí is soon entangled with Gala
Gala Dalí
Gala Dalí , usually known simply as Gala, was the wife of first Paul Éluard, then Salvador Dalí, and an inspiration for them and many other writers and artists.- Early years :...
(Arly Jover
Arly Jover
Araceli "Arly" Jover is a Spanish actress.-Biography:Araceli Jover was born in Melilla, a Spanish region in Northern Africa. After living there for five years, her family was forced to move to Majorca, in the Balearic Islands because of her father's work as a soldier...
) a married woman with a penchant for celebrities. When García Lorca visits, he finds his friend is a changed man, in his life and his politics.
Cast
- Robert PattinsonRobert PattinsonRobert Douglas Thomas Pattinson is an English actor, model, musician, and producer. Born and raised in London, Pattinson started out his career by playing the role of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...
as Salvador DalíSalvador DalíSalvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol , commonly known as Salvador Dalí , was a prominent Spanish Catalan surrealist painter born in Figueres,Spain.... - Javier BeltránJavier BeltránJavier Beltrán Andreu is a Spanish film and theatre actor.Beltrán pursued his studies in Barcelona, which included a four-year humanities course at Pompeu Fabra University. He later studied dramatic arts, dance-theatre course and acting...
as Federico García LorcaFederico García LorcaFederico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca was a Spanish poet, dramatist and theatre director. García Lorca achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27. He is believed to be one of thousands who were summarily shot by anti-communist death squads... - Matthew McNultyMatthew McNultyMatthew McNulty is an English actor of film and television.-Film:*Geography of the Hapless Heart as Jamie*Messengers 2: The Scarecrow as Deputy Milton...
as Luis BuñuelLuis BuñuelLuis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:... - Marina GatellMarina GatellMarina Gatell Poch is a Catalan actress.- Features Movies :* 2010, Maximum Shame* 2010, Pa Negre* 2009, Little Ashes* 2008, Intrusos * 2007, The Ungodly...
as Magdalena - Bruno Oro as Paco
- Esther Nubiola as Adela
- Marc Pujol as Carlos
- Arly JoverArly JoverAraceli "Arly" Jover is a Spanish actress.-Biography:Araceli Jover was born in Melilla, a Spanish region in Northern Africa. After living there for five years, her family was forced to move to Majorca, in the Balearic Islands because of her father's work as a soldier...
as Gala DalíGala DalíGala Dalí , usually known simply as Gala, was the wife of first Paul Éluard, then Salvador Dalí, and an inspiration for them and many other writers and artists.- Early years :... - Simón Andreu as Fernando del Valle
- Vicky Peña as Magdalena’s aunt
- Rubén Arroyo as Rafael
- Diana Gómez as Ana María
- Pep Sais as Art Teacher
- Joan Picó as Young Officer
- Ferran Audí as Guard 1
- Adría Allué as Guard 2
- Ferran Lahoz as Señor Milagro
- Cristian Rodrigo as Young Journalist
- Sue Flack as Madam
- Adrian Devant as Puppeteer
- Ramón Enrich as Professor
- Xavi Siles as Man 1
- Philippa Goslett and Hannah Rũtzou as Federico’s Sisters
- Paco Alonso as Gypsy Singer
Title
The title is taken from Salvador Dalí's 1927-28 painting Cenicitas (Little Ashes). It was originally called The Birth of Venus, before being changed to Sterile Efforts and then finally Cenicitas. It was first displayed on 20 March 1929 in a Madrid exhibition. It was again displayed in his first solo exhibition in Paris in June 1931. The painting is currently in the Dalí collection of the Queen Sofia Art Centre in Madrid.Background
While it is widely acknowledged that Lorca was infatuated with Dalí, for years the artist denied entering into a relationship with Lorca.Dalí stated:
Writer Philippa Goslett supposes:
Biographer of both Dali and Lorca, Ian Gibson, stated:
Film festivals
Little Ashes premiered at the 16th annual Raindance Film FestivalRaindance Film Festival
Raindance is an independent film festival and film school that operates from various cities including: London, New York, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Budapest, Berlin and Brussels...
in London. The sold-out screening was scheduled on 7 October 2008 at 19:00. A second screening was also added for the 8th of October at 14:30. Little Ashes premiered in the U.S. at the Miami Gay & Lesbian film festival. Fans built in depth websites like The Little Ashes Promo Blitz and started grassroots efforts to get theaters to play the movie. On May 8, 2009 it premiered in only 11 US locations.
DVD
The UK DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
was released on July 13, 2009 and is rated 15. The US DVD was released on January 26, 2010.
Awards
Little Ashes won the GLAAD Media AwardGLAAD Media Awards
The GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives...
for "Outstanding Film - Limited Release" during the 21st GLAAD Media Awards
21st GLAAD Media Awards
The 21st GLAAD Media Awards was the 2010 annual presentation of the media awards presented by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The awards seek to honor films, television shows, musicians and works of journalism that fairly and accurately represent the LGBT community and issues...
.
Further reading
- "Were Spain's Two Artistic Legends Secret Gay Lovers?", The Guardian (October 28, 2007)
- Aria film synopsis
- George E. Haggerty, Gay Histories and Cultures ISBN 0815318804
- Ian Gibson, The Shameful Life of Salvador Dalí ISBN 0393046249
- Salvador Dalí: An Illustrated Life, Tate Publishing ISBN 9781854377593