May 25, 2012

Madrid, Spain

by MovieMaker Staff | Published October 23, 2006

Credit: Sony Pictures Classics

If a moviemaker can be named the cinematic patron saint of a city, then without a doubt, Pedro AlmodÃ³var can claim the title for Madrid. Spain’s capital city has served as the vibrant backdrop for all of the acclaimed director’s feature films, from 1980’s Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montÃ³n to his most recent release, Volver, which opens in New York and Los Angeles on November 3rd. While AlmodÃ³var may be the most recognizable of Madrid’s champions, the city has played host to film sets as far back as 1903.Aside from AlmodÃ³var’s work, Alejandro AmenÃ¡bar’s The Others and The Sea Inside as well as Julio Medem’s Sex and Lucia rank as some of Madrid’s highest grossing films to date. Occupied since prehistoric times, Madrid’s long history is reflected in its diverse architecture from the expansive royal palace to the industrial sprawl of the Franco dictatorship. As the third most populous city in the European Union, modern-day Madrid is a bustling epicenter of European culture with a vibrant artistic scene. It’s no wonder that so many moviemakers, Spanish and otherwise, have sought out this city to bring their cinematic visions to life.

Other films featuring Madrid include:
That Obscure Object of Desire
Open Your Eyes
Lost in La Mancha
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
From Russia with Love