Keswick Film Festival

Synopsis

Rural Spain 1940: Victor Erice's extraordinary debut film is the haunting portrait of an introverted child (Ana Torrent is unforgettable) who sees James Whale�s 1931 classic, Frankenstein. Fascinated, and encouraged by her sister, she searches the woods for the monster, becoming immersed in a mysterious, poetic, imaginary world. A poignant exploration of the fragile innocence of childhood, The Spirit of the Beehive is Spanish cinema at its very best. While references to fascism and politics are mainly allegorical - Franco still ruled in 1973 - it captures the frustration, fears and uncertainty within the family in the aftermath of the Civil War.

Golden Seashell (Erice) - San Sebastián International Film Festival 1973