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The Holy Innocents

PG 1984 1h 45m Drama List
100% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In 1960s Spain, Paco (Alfredo Landa), his wife, Régula (Terele Pavez), and his brother-in-law Azarias (Francisco Rabal) work for slave wages on a large plantation. Paco, a brilliant hunter, tries to use his skills to win over his heartless employers, but his talents earn him little respect. Meanwhile, after the aging Azarias loses his job, he is forced to move in with the Paco, Régula and their three kids, which further complicates the lives of this impoverished family.

Critics Reviews

View All (9) Critics Reviews
Wally Hammond Time Out A moving and mournful valediction to an unforgotten and unforgiven past. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Janet Maslin New York Times ''The Holy Innocents'' is acted in a plain, utterly convincing style, particularly by Mr. Landa, who arouses great compassion. It culminates in a scene that, even in light of the story that has preceded it, comes as a shock. Sep 7, 2004 Full Review Molly Haskell Vogue If Spanish director Mario Camus is not in a class with Luis Buñuel or Ermanno Olmi, his The Holy Innocents is nevertheless a major, swelling achievement that should put him on the international map. Feb 28, 2020 Full Review Diego Galán El Pais (Spain) One of the most beautiful and important movies of the era. [Full Review in Spanish] Feb 10, 2020 Full Review Beatriz Maldivia Espinof It is an essential film for any movie lover. [Full Review in Spanish] Sep 10, 2019 Full Review Borja Hermoso El Pais (Spain) One of the emblematic films of Spanish cinema. [Full Review in Spanish] Sep 10, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (25) audience reviews
David C A masterpiece that starkly reflects the post-war life of the day laborers in southern Spain. The moral of the story is join a communist party. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/03/21 Full Review Audience Member La mejor película española que he visto. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Probably the worst Spanish-language movie I have ever seen. About a retarded dude and his love for birds. Had no idea what was going on most of the movie, could not empathize with the "impoverished sharecroppers" at all. Also, the soundtrack was incredibly annoying. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Obra maestra de Mario Camus. Su mejor película esta adaptación de una obra de Miguel Delibes. Ya anteriormente había adaptado al nobel Cela con La Colmena. Desgarrador drama social en la España de los 60, la historia de unos miserables campesinos en manos de los caciques. Se dan la mano la opresión, la humillación, y toda una lección de realismo de Delibes captado por Camus. A veces resulta grotesca. No es una película social que "destile" un mal llamado "compromiso político". Es una película costumbrista que relata una vida que no podría ser de otra manera. Magnificas interpretaciones de todo el cuadro de actores pero me quedo con dos, Juan Diego en el papel del señorito, Terele Pávez en el papel de Recula y Alfredo Landa..........Mario Camus's masterpiece. His best film is adapted from a play by Miguel Delibes. Previously he had adapted to the nobel Cela with "La Colmena". Wrenching social drama in Spain from the 60's, the story of a miserable farmers in the hands of caciques. They shake hands oppression, humiliation, and a lesson in realism Delibes captured by Camus. Sometimes it is grotesque. There isn't a social film "distilling" a so-called "political commitment". It's a film that tells a life manners could not be otherwise. Magnificent performances of the entire table of players but I'll take three, Juan Diego on the role of "señorito", Terele Pávez in the role of "Recula" and Alfredo Landa Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member "Los Santos Inocentes" (1984) 4/5 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member Masterpiece of human struggle and class system. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Holy Innocents

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1960s Spain, Paco (Alfredo Landa), his wife, Régula (Terele Pavez), and his brother-in-law Azarias (Francisco Rabal) work for slave wages on a large plantation. Paco, a brilliant hunter, tries to use his skills to win over his heartless employers, but his talents earn him little respect. Meanwhile, after the aging Azarias loses his job, he is forced to move in with the Paco, Régula and their three kids, which further complicates the lives of this impoverished family.
Director
Mario Camus
Producer
Julián Mateos
Screenwriter
Antonio Larreta, Manuel Matji, Mario Camus
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Spanish
Runtime
1h 45m