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Ay, Carmela!

Play trailer Poster for Ay, Carmela! PG-13 1990 1h 43m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Carmela (Carmen Maura) and Paulino (Andrés Pajares) are entertainers during the Spanish Civil War. They travel the country with their young, mute sidekick, Gustavete (Gabino Diego), and perform for the Republican troops. They're also fiery patriots, which puts them in danger when they're captured by Franco's soldiers during their tour. But instead of death, they're sentenced to perform for their enemy, putting their loyalty on the line in the face of survival.

Critics Reviews

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Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 08/03/2023
Ay! Carmela has a sense of spontaneity that jumps out of the screen as if she had invented herself from the start. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/06/2005
3/5
James Sanford Kalamazoo Gazette 07/14/2004
2/5
Not Maura's best, but OK Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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lester l May 17 Great movie. A small moment in the lives of ordinary people, to show how dangerous fascists are. See more 12/28/2012 An interesting and important movie but never really hits the spot. See more 11/10/2008 A good film set in Spain in late 30s. The plot focuses on performers entertaining the Republican troops. On their way back from the front they take a wrong turn and end up in the Franco run territory and end up arrested. The film shows the sort of persecution people experienced during the Franco era, but does not lose it's sense of humor. See more 10/02/2008 Reminded me of a not as good, but still okay, Spanish Life is Beautiful. See more 09/26/2008 This was weird and boring at first, but I like it overall. Not too much to say about this one. See more 06/04/2008 Le parcours d'une troupe theatrale peu politisee qui passe accidentellement de la zone republicaine a celle controlee par les militaires et Franco... Une tragi-comedie interessante sur fond de guerre civile espagnole... See more Read all reviews
Ay, Carmela!

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Cast & Crew

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Carlos Saura

Director

Carmen Maura

Carmela

Andrés Pajares

Paulino

Gabino Diego

Gustavete

Maurizio de Razza

Teniente Ripamonte

José Sancho

Capitán
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Ay, Carmela!

Ay, Carmela! (1990) Ay, Carmela! (1990) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Carmela (Carmen Maura) and Paulino (Andrés Pajares) are entertainers during the Spanish Civil War. They travel the country with their young, mute sidekick, Gustavete (Gabino Diego), and perform for the Republican troops. They're also fiery patriots, which puts them in danger when they're captured by Franco's soldiers during their tour. But instead of death, they're sentenced to perform for their enemy, putting their loyalty on the line in the face of survival.
Director
Carlos Saura
Screenwriter
Rafael Azcona, Carlos Saura
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
European Spanish
Runtime
1h 43m