Carla Simón

“[Translated] I'll start with a Spanish film that I feel needs to be vindicated, which is up here. It's El Sur, by Víctor Erice. I think Víctor Erice is a master and he's one of the main reasons why I make films. People always talk about The Spirit of the Beehive but I think El Sur also deserves a mention. It's a beautiful film, with incredible photography. Especially the relationship with the father, that mystery of the father... I think it really speaks to how children see the world.”

“[Translated] Here's another film that deserves more attention: Wanda, by Barbara Loden. Unfortunately, it's the only film that this director made. She was the wife of Elia Kazan. For me, it's about seeing someone— she plays the lead because she was an actress— Seeing someone manage to just be in front of the camera. Watching this movie, you feel like you know this woman in all of her complexity, and in all her fragility. I think it's a deeply feminist film, and it's one of the stories that truly made me think about what feminism really is, and where it can be approached from.”

“[Translated] There's another film up there that fascinates me, which is Walkabout by Nicolas Roeg. This film, which I think is from the 70s— there was a lot of experimentation in the 70s, so the editing in this film is crazy. It's an incredible story about an encounter in the desert between two characters from very different worlds. Well, three, actually, because there's also a child. I don't know, I found it fascinating. I actually discovered it very recently. My editor recommended it to me.”

“[Translated] There's a lot of very interesting Italian Neorealism here. And since it's always been a great influence for me, I'll try to choose one, although it's hard. Umberto D. I think it's a beautiful film. Actually, I really like everything Vittorio De Sica does, but this film is so tender, and I think it expresses very well the whole spirit of Neorealism, and of Italian films of that period.”

“[Translated] Well, since we're in Italy, I'm going to pick up this masterpiece, which is Ermanno Olmi's The Tree of Wooden Clogs. This film mesmerizes me. It talks about rural life in a beautiful way. It's filmed throughout the seasons, and it's also an ensemble film, with a lot of characters. I think it's very beautiful.”

“[Translated] Actually, there's a film here that I saw very recently... I saw it earlier... And I think it's like a sister film to The Tree of Wooden Clogs. It's this one: Vermiglio, by Maura Delpero. It's about what happens during the war in the villages — what happens to women, especially. How they experienced the war, from their homes and villages. It's shot in the Alps, and I recommend it as well.”

“[Translated] Another film I consider a masterpiece, is Beau travail, by Claire Denis. I'm passionate about Claire Denis, but among her films, this is one that affected me the most. There's something about the way she relates to the male body, in particular, and this sensuality that she sees in all of her characters, that I think is really fascinating. And that last dance scene... I think it's also really epic.”

“[Translated] Another director who's been recommended me, though I haven't seen her movies— and it's wonderful that I can discover them in a box set— is Mai Zetterling. Well, this is the perfect opportunity to meet her.”