David Menéndez

Follows two friends, Juan and David, they will find themselves on a rooftop terrace after an intense party in Madrid. Juan witnesses David falling to the void, and his body disintegrating into ceramic pieces after hitting a car.

After moving in with her boyfriend, Mila becomes aware of her loss of desire.

Sabaté lives in exile in France, but since the end of the Spanish Civil War he has never stopped making forays into Spain in an attempt to overthrow fascism in the only way he knows and considers effective: direct action. This journey, structured like a road-movie with a hint of western, highlights the fears of four characters and Sabaté, their past, their regrets and questions about their cause and the violence, uncovering the ghosts of the past of all these characters in a fast-paced adventure where both sides show that they are fine adversaries.

Lili has left everything behind to travel to the edge of the earth and accomplish her dream, fishing the Northern seas. She persuades Ian, the captain of a trawler by the name of Rebel, to give her a chance and let her join the crew. The only woman on board, they call her Sparrow. Hidden behind a frail appearance is a will of steel, and her courage and determination ultimately win over their respect. Adopted into this world of often unfortunate individuals, Lili will conquer her right to live differently, free.

Antoine and Olga, a French couple, have been living in a small village in Galicia for a long time. They practice eco-responsible agriculture and restore abandoned houses to facilitate repopulation. Everything should be idyllic except for their opposition to a wind turbine project that creates a serious conflict with their neighbors. The tension will rise to the point of irreparability.

In 1938 the Spanish Civil War has worn both armies and destroyed the mood of the people of both sides. The differences between national Republicans however are revealing: The fascist side has the unconditional support of arms and men facilitated by Hitler and Mussolini while the Republican army is ignored by a Europe more concerned of a possible World War than the fate of Spain. Thousands of young people between 17 and 18 rows are called by the republican army. These are the main characters, four young for whom the Battle of the Ebro will be the first direct contact with the war. This film tells the story of these young people forced to leave behind innocence and into whistling bullets.

A group of seniors attends a workshop on sex. Olga, their teacher, try to make them see that their bodies are still alive giving them homework such as learning to look at themselves in the mirror or dedicate twenty minutes a day to some pleasant activity. The problem is that neither society nor their own relatives are always willing to accept that elderly people have their own sexuality.

Cenerentola (Joyce DiDonato) is the stepdaughter of Don Magnifico but is treated as a servant in his household. As she sweeps the floor and obeys every command given to her, Cenerentola dreams that she will find her very own Prince Charming. Then one day the handsome Prince Ramiro (Juan Diego Florez) arrives at the mansion, announcing that he's looking for the most beautiful girl in the land to be his bride - which changes Cenerentola's life forever!

This is an excellent version of one of the greatest of all comic operas, featuring superb singing and orchestral playing. And it's not just the two headliners; listen, for example, to the entrance of the stepsisters at the beginning of Act One. Nevertheless, some viewers may find the staging problematic, with singers in clown-like costumes and sets featuring human-sized rodents. Those seeking a more conventional production might want to consider the Houston Grand Opera DVD, also on Decca, with Cecilia Bartoli and Raul Jimenez. Both sets are wonderful, but, for me, Joyce Didonato and Juan Diego Florez are slightly to be preferred. Highly recommended.

Madrid's legendary Teatro Real staged this production of Giacomo Puccini's seminal opera La Bohème, starring Inva Mula, Aquiles Machado and Jesús López Cobos in the principal roles. Giancarlo del Monaco directed for the stage, Michael Scott designed the sets and costumes, and The Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real provide musical accompaniment.