Garci, José-Luis

b. 1944, Madrid

   Filmmaker

   Garci began his career in film as a critic, writing for Signo, Aún and Cinestudio, and acting as editorin-chief of Reseña and Revista SP for two years. In 1970 he began writing scripts for films such as La cabina (The Telephone Booth) (1972), a prize-winning short directed by Antonio Mercero, and Vida conyugal sana (A Healthy Married Life) (1973) and Los nuevos españoles (The New Spaniards) (1974) both directed by Bodegas.

   Following his success with the short Mi Marilyn (My Marilyn) (1975) about the American film star, he directed an all-time box office winner Asignatura pendiente (Pending Exam) in 1977. Depicting the unsuccessful attempt by a left-wing lawyer and his former girlfriend to recapture the excitement of their earlier relationship the film was seen as representing the lost and irrecoverable opportunities of the Franco years. In similar vein Solos en la madrugada (Alone at Dawn) (1978) depicted with wit and humour the humdrum middle-class lives of former college radicals.

   Las verdes praderas (Green Pastures) (1979) and El crack (The Crack) (1981), both starring Alfredo Landa, brought him further success, as did Volver a empezar (To Begin Again) (1982). A moving portrait of a former Republican soldier, now an ageing professor in America, returning to Spain for a last visit to his native town, it was the first Spanish film to win an Oscar for best film in a foreign language. Canción de cuna (Lullaby) (1994) also won him international recognition. Based on a story by Martínez Sierra about nuns who adopt a child left on their doorstep, the film deliberately recreates an older classic style and gained him an award for best director in Montreal.

   EAMONN RODGERS