The Grandfather (1998 film)
Encyclopedia
The Grandfather is a 1998
Spanish
drama film
written, produced and directed by José Luis Garci
. It stars Fernando Fernán-Gómez, Cayetana Guillén Cuervo
and Rafael Alonso.
The film, an adaptation of the novel of the same title by Benito Pérez Galdós
, tells the story of an aristocrat's search to discover which of his two putative granddaughters resulted from an extramarital affair by his daughter-in-law.
His son died heartbroken after he discovered his wife was having an affair with a Parisian painter and he left a letter stating that one of the girls is an illegitimate child, not of his blood, and therefore not entitled to be his true heir or true successor to his name and country estate. To the Count of Albrit, is a matter of honor to know who of the girls is his real granddaughter. To uncover the truth he confronts his son's widow, Lucrecia.
Lucrecia, now 32, is an English born beauty with a scandalous reputation, who married the Count’s son when she was 18 and was unfaithful to her husband during their marriage, having an affair with a Parisian painter. Confronting her, the Count of Albrit, who opposed the match, tells her she killed his son, who died of sadness, loneliness and shame brought on by her infidelity. Lucrecia replies that life is complicated, as are the emotions between men and women. In any case she vehemently refuses to discuss the matter of her daughter’s paternity.
Lucrecia is well connected. Her latest liaison, with Jaime, a Government minister, has benefited the village where her lands lie. When she sees her family relationships and a future move from the provinces to Madrid threatened, she tries to use her standing with the town’s authorities and the local clergy to thwart the old man in his quest. Their plan is to have the Count of Albrit confined in a nearby monastery, but the still-formidable Don Rodrigo quickly realizes their intentions and manages to escape their trap. He reminds some of the smarmy villagers of their checkered past in the days when the Count of Albrit was a power to be reckoned with.
During his quest to find the true origin of his granddaughters, the Count of Albrit befriends the girl’s teacher poor old Pío Coronado. Too kind for his own good and saddled with six unseen but abusive and sluttish daughters, Coronado would like to kill himself, but he lacks the courage. The straightforward Count tells the tutor that he will be only too happy to toss him off a cliff into the sea, whenever Coronado is ready.
In the meantime, Senén, a mercenary servant, offers an incriminating love letter for sale. The letter implies that Doli, the eldest of the two girls, who all along has defended forcefully the well being of her grandfather, is the legitimate child. With this piece of information, Don Rodrigo confronts his daughter in law once again. He asks her to allow him to live with Doli in the family rural estate, but Lucrecia refuses to be parted from any of his daughters without admitting the truth about Doli’s paternity. Soon after, Lucrecia’s confessor reveals to Don Rodrigo that he has been in the wrong. Neli is his biological granddaughter. Finally reconciling with the Count of Albrit, Lucrecia leaves for Madrid with Neli. Doli stays behind with don Rodrigo, who has his wished fulfilled. Pio Coronado buries his suicidal intentions.
Fernando Fernán-Gómez won Goya Award as Best Actor. There was a controversy with Garci that year with Goyas. He was accused of buying votes for the film, so, he quit the Spanish Academy.
made a previous version titled La duda.
1998 in film
-Events:* February 14 - Sharon Stone marries Phil Bronstein.* Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver at a California shopping mall.-Top grossing films:...
Spanish
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...
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...
written, produced and directed by José Luis Garci
José Luis Garci
José Luis Garci is a producer, critic, TV presenter, writer, screenwriter and film director in Spanish cinema. He earned worldwide acclaim and his country's first Best Foreign Language Film Oscar for Begin the Beguine...
. It stars Fernando Fernán-Gómez, Cayetana Guillén Cuervo
Cayetana Guillén Cuervo
Cayetana Guillén Cuervo, is a Spanish actress and TV presenter. Her parents, Fernando Guillén and Gemma Cuervo, and her brother, Fernando are also actors....
and Rafael Alonso.
The film, an adaptation of the novel of the same title by Benito Pérez Galdós
Benito Pérez Galdós
Benito Pérez Galdós was a Spanish realist novelist. Considered second only to Cervantes in stature, he was the leading Spanish realist novelist....
, tells the story of an aristocrat's search to discover which of his two putative granddaughters resulted from an extramarital affair by his daughter-in-law.
Plot
Don Rodrigo Count of Albrit, an old Spanish aristocratic, returns to turn of the century Spain after losing his fortune in America. The death of his only son has made him come back to his family estate, now in possession of his daughter in law, Lucrecia. Upon his return, Don Rodrigo is pleased to meet his granddaughters, Doli and Neli, both of which are adorable and attentive towards him. However there is something nagging Don Rodrigo.His son died heartbroken after he discovered his wife was having an affair with a Parisian painter and he left a letter stating that one of the girls is an illegitimate child, not of his blood, and therefore not entitled to be his true heir or true successor to his name and country estate. To the Count of Albrit, is a matter of honor to know who of the girls is his real granddaughter. To uncover the truth he confronts his son's widow, Lucrecia.
Lucrecia, now 32, is an English born beauty with a scandalous reputation, who married the Count’s son when she was 18 and was unfaithful to her husband during their marriage, having an affair with a Parisian painter. Confronting her, the Count of Albrit, who opposed the match, tells her she killed his son, who died of sadness, loneliness and shame brought on by her infidelity. Lucrecia replies that life is complicated, as are the emotions between men and women. In any case she vehemently refuses to discuss the matter of her daughter’s paternity.
Lucrecia is well connected. Her latest liaison, with Jaime, a Government minister, has benefited the village where her lands lie. When she sees her family relationships and a future move from the provinces to Madrid threatened, she tries to use her standing with the town’s authorities and the local clergy to thwart the old man in his quest. Their plan is to have the Count of Albrit confined in a nearby monastery, but the still-formidable Don Rodrigo quickly realizes their intentions and manages to escape their trap. He reminds some of the smarmy villagers of their checkered past in the days when the Count of Albrit was a power to be reckoned with.
During his quest to find the true origin of his granddaughters, the Count of Albrit befriends the girl’s teacher poor old Pío Coronado. Too kind for his own good and saddled with six unseen but abusive and sluttish daughters, Coronado would like to kill himself, but he lacks the courage. The straightforward Count tells the tutor that he will be only too happy to toss him off a cliff into the sea, whenever Coronado is ready.
In the meantime, Senén, a mercenary servant, offers an incriminating love letter for sale. The letter implies that Doli, the eldest of the two girls, who all along has defended forcefully the well being of her grandfather, is the legitimate child. With this piece of information, Don Rodrigo confronts his daughter in law once again. He asks her to allow him to live with Doli in the family rural estate, but Lucrecia refuses to be parted from any of his daughters without admitting the truth about Doli’s paternity. Soon after, Lucrecia’s confessor reveals to Don Rodrigo that he has been in the wrong. Neli is his biological granddaughter. Finally reconciling with the Count of Albrit, Lucrecia leaves for Madrid with Neli. Doli stays behind with don Rodrigo, who has his wished fulfilled. Pio Coronado buries his suicidal intentions.
Cast
- Fernando Fernán-Gómez - Don Rodrigo Count of Albrit
- Rafael AlonsoRafael AlonsoRafael Alonso was a Spanish actor. He appeared in over 120 films and television shows between 1951 and 1998.-Selected filmography:* Welcome Mr...
- Pio Coronado - Cayetana Guillén CuervoCayetana Guillén CuervoCayetana Guillén Cuervo, is a Spanish actress and TV presenter. Her parents, Fernando Guillén and Gemma Cuervo, and her brother, Fernando are also actors....
- Lucrecia - Agustín GonzálezAgustín GonzálezAgustín González Martínez, was a Spanish actor.- Biography :He was brother of Manuel González, one of the members of Los Brincos....
- Senén - Cristina Cruz Mínguez - Doli
- Alicia Rozas - Neli
- Fernando GuillénFernando GuillénFernando Guillén was a Spanish Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1924 Summer Olympics.-References:...
- the Major - Francisco AlgoraFrancisco AlgoraFrancisco Algora is a Spanish actor. He has appeared in 95 films and television shows since 1972. He starred in the 1973 film Habla, mudita, which was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
- the priest - Antonio ValeroAntonio ValeroAntonio Valero born Antonio Valero Osma , is a Spanish actor.-Career:He began his career as actor in the theater in Catalan with the directors Fabia Puigserver, Albert Boadella and Pere Planella. He made his film debut with La Mitad del Cielo directed by Manuel Gutierrez Aragon...
- the Government minister
Awards
The film was an Academy Award nominee as Best Foreign Language Film.Fernando Fernán-Gómez won Goya Award as Best Actor. There was a controversy with Garci that year with Goyas. He was accused of buying votes for the film, so, he quit the Spanish Academy.
Alternate versions
There is a longer cut made for television. It was aired in 2001 in TVE. In 1972, Rafael GilRafael Gil
Rafael Gil was a Spanish film director and screenwriter.- Filmography :*El hombre que se quiso matar .*Huella de luz. . –script too-*Viaje sin destino...
made a previous version titled La duda.