Pajarico
Little Bird (film)
1997 Spanish film
Little Bird (Spanish: Pajarico) is a 1997 Spanish drama film written and directed by Carlos Saura which stars Paco Rabal, Alejandro Martínez, and Dafne Fernández.
| Little Bird | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Spanish | Pajarico |
| Directed by | Carlos Saura |
| Screenplay by | Carlos Saura |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | José Luis López-Linares |
| Edited by | Julia Juániz |
| Music by | Alejandro Massó |
Production company | Filmart |
| Distributed by | Columbia Tri-Star Films de España |
Release dates |
|
| Country | Spain |
| Language | Spanish |
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The plot follows Manuel "Manu", a 10-old-year boy from Madrid arriving in the province of Murcia for a Summer stay under his uncles so he can distance from the separation of his parents.[1][2] There he experiences puppy love with cousin Fuensanta.[2]
- Francisco Rabal as grandfather[2][3]
- Alejandro Martínez as Manu[2][3]
- Dafne Fernández as Fuensanta[2][3]
- Eusebio Lázaro [es] as uncle Fernando[2][3]
- Manuel Bandera as uncle Juan[2][3]
- Juan Luis Galiardo as uncle Emilio[2][3]
- Eulalia Ramón [es] as aunt Margarita[2][3]
- María Luisa San José [es] as aunt Beatriz[2][3]
- Violeta Cela as aunt Lola[2][3]
- Paulina Gálvez as aunt Marisa[2][3]
- Rafael Álvarez "El Brujo" [es] as vagabundo[2][3]
- Eva Marciel [es] as Loli[2][3]
- Israel Rodríguez [es] as Emilín[2][3]
The story is freely based on Saura's childhood memories about his time in the Region of Murcia.[1] José Luis López Linares [es] worked as cinematographer whilst Alejandro Massó [ca] was responsible for the music and Julia Juániz [es] for editing.[4][2] The film is a Filmart production.[2]
The film was presented in August 1997 at the 21st Montreal World Film Festival,[5] where Saura won the Best Director award.[6] It was released theatrically in April 1998.[7]
Leonard Klady of Variety wrote that the "story is undeniably genial and well observed, but lacks a central focus or a compelling dramatic tension".[2]
José Luis Sánchez Noriega [es] observed that despite being "a film with irregularities in its narrative development", Little Bird is still "a mature, serene movie, where the director reviews old themes with a more tender gaze".[8]
- Ganuza, Asier (10 February 2023). "Carlos Saura: 'Pajarico' y la Murcia de su niñez". La Opinión de Murcia.
- Klady, Leonard (28 September 1997). "Little Bird". Variety.
- "Pajarico". Catálogo de Cinespañol. ICAA. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
- "Pajarico". Fotogramas. 29 May 2008.
- Romero, Ana (1 September 1997). "Fuerte ovación en Montreal a 'Pajarico', la historia "más sentimental" de Carlos Saura". El País.
- "El Festival de Montreal le exige muy poco al cine". La Nación. 5 September 1997.
- Jurado Morales, José (2011). "Yo, Carlos Saura, escritor". In Lefere, Robin (ed.). Carlos Saura: una trayectoria ejemplar (PDF). Madrid: Visor Libros. p. 263. ISBN 978-84-9895-130-1.
- Sánchez Noriega, José Luis (2002). Críticas del cine español. Alicante: Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes.