Sat 11th April 1:30pm

José Antonio Nieves Conde, 89 min, Spain, 1951. Drama

In the early years of Francoist dictatorship a family of humble farmers moves to Madrid in an attempt to escape the hardships of rural life. Their hopes and dreams are soon obliterated by a ruthless and despotic society that forces them to confront the dilemma between delinquency and starvation. Spanish cinema in the fifties was plagued by a plethora of filmic Falangist heroes and folkloric stars. Using neorrealist techniques, Surcos counteracted the official trend and presented an extremely brave and vivid testimony of the situation of a country plunged into economic and spiritual misery.

Cast: Luis Peña, María Asquerino, Francisco Arenzana, Marisa De Leza, Félix Dafauce, Francisco Bernal, Félix Briones,  Rafael Calvo Revilla, Montserrat Carulla, Chano Conde, Ramón Elías, Casimiro Hurtado, Pilar Sirvent, Marujita Díaz

AWARDS

• Cinema Writers Circle Awards. Spain: CEC Award. Best Film. Best Supporting Actor. Best Supporting Actress. 1953
• National Syndicate of Spectacle. Spain: 3rd place Prize of the National Syndicate of Spectacle. 1953
• Nomination Cannes Film Festival. Grand Prize of the Festival; José Antonio Nieves Conde. 1952

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