If you are a movie lover, sign up for this luxury trip through the Spanish cities that give life to the seventh art

There are many ways to travel. And it is not always done through space, because, surely, between the pages of a great novel or in the seat of the childhood cinema we have traveled. Life, in general, is a journey. It is not necessary to remember that small and large we have been able to know distant galaxies of times as or more distant or traveled the deserts strewn with horizons to the rhythm of Morricone.

In particular, Spain has film cities. From end to end there is cinematographic life installed in its history or purely present with festivals that mark the north of this art. We propose an unavoidable tour for any lover of celluloid by the hand of Renfe so you can discover everything that our country has offered to the cinema.

Malaga: new capital of cinema

There are more and more compelling reasons not to miss out on the beauty of this city that is seen so much in the sea like in the world. For history and for progress. This cradle of jasmine, which Manolo Alcántara could sing, is a land of letters, actors and the seventh art. It sounds through a megaphone: “Málaga-María Zambrano” and the cinema raises an eyebrow.

Its festival graces an Andalusian city that has the gift of the sun, the moving image and letters. There, not only is the best Spanish cinema awarded since the late nineties, but at the same time, great films are recorded. we can think of The way of the English, second foray into the direction of our beloved Antonio Banderas. A film based on the novel by the prestigious writer —also from Malaga— Antonio Soler. Boys who dream that they write, discovery of love, friendship and some betrayal between friends. Fine handwriting by a great author and a visual conception at the height of an inextinguishable star like Banderas. Do you need more reasons? We think not.

The big week of Valladolid

The course of the Pisuerga passes through the center of the history of Spain. Valladolid, the magnificent Pucela, is not only a land of kings, which is not little. Seminci (Valladolid International Film Week) began in the mid-fifties, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that each edition is bettered, due to the relevance of the films that participate and because the city continues to rise as a tourist spot that countless surprises.

His latest hit? I’m going to have a good time. The streets of Valladolid to the rhythm of Hombres G performed by some child artists who make an impact with their talent and that point of nostalgia that will bring an irrepressible smile to those who lived through the eighties, along with the participation of Raúl Arévalo, Dani Rovira and Karla Souza. Getting up from a somersault on Paseo Zorrilla is not something unlikely after enjoying this film.

Barcelona, ​​open heart

How could this city of culture, artistic power, creative vivacity and sublime beauty not appear? Let’s be honest, whether he succeeded or not, Woody Allen admitted that he wanted to make Barcelona the same as with Manhattan. That Vicky Cristina Barcelona be fantastic should not hide a somewhat deeper reading: BArcelona can compete in beauty with any other city in the world. Penélope Cruz in the role that would win him the Oscar, Bardem as the icon he was and is, and Woody Allen still in good shape.

We must not forget that a few years before Pedro Almodóvar captured it in Everything about my mother. Who does not like to travel back in time to the cities of that time by the hand of the most paradigmatic Spanish director. Penélope Cruz looked talented, like Cecilia Roth and the legendary Fernando Fernán-Gómez.

Many people don’t know it, but getting lost in Barcelona is a luxury, especially in the Gothic Quarter, or see its infinity from the Collserola. We don’t have the keys to the Cadillac, but we do have the keys to a movie stop.

Madrid (or how to be Moscow and not to go)

The good thing about the Villa y Corte is that it can become whatever you want with a little good eye. For a while, maybe you didn’t know, it was the setting for filming Doctor Zhivago in 1964. For almost a year, Madrid dressed as Moscowsince the censorship of the Soviet regime prevented an American studio from recording in the USSR.

It should be noted that in In the Canillas neighborhood, nearly twenty thousand square meters were built to recreate the Russian capital of this Oscar-winning film that allowed its director, David Lean, to obtain another bunch of statuettes —5—. And special mention should be made of the Delicias station, which no longer exists but served to filming of the famous train scenes. Madrid, despite lacking its coliseum or its Eiffel tower, has a great advantage, its versatility.

Years later, in the eighties, Madrid subscribed to the neons of “El brillante” or “Capitol”. It served him for the first Spanish Oscar winner, Jose Luis Garcia; one of the best directors we have. Yes, we are talking about Germán Areta, with the mustache, air of solemnity and a touch of cynic in love with him. Gran Vía, Temple of Debod, Plaza de España, and old rings that are almost smeared with Madrid polar. Yes, it smells of smoke, mystery and great dialogues. the best cinema.

Valencia, a young light in the light

City of light and life. His veins of tradition have not prevented him from creating one of the festivals that they go through —and will go through— new talents, young stars with eyes of ambition or celluloid dreams. This new aspirant to conquer screens and demonstrate that he handles the camera or the dialogues as if he were on the edge of lynch or to himself. The Cinema Jove International Film Festival is the opportunity for the new one that opens in Levante.

Point of reference, since the late eighties, for all its participants. It can be said that winning here is winning a first great medal. In a city where color dominates, good food has become a destination and the sea benefits from its company, living life is said to go through Valencia. The value of a city that bets on people under 35 years of age for the direction of feature films and shorts makes this festival a great catalyst for the city and culture.

Nor should we forget what Valencia has given to creation itself. There, the great Berlanga rolled everyone to jaila fun parody, with the seemingly slight depth of the filmmaker, which garnered three Goyas. or the spectacular tomorrowland. Do you want to know what the city of the future is like or what it could be like? A walk through the City of Arts and Sciences will give us a good setting.

All these destinations and more in which the cinema is protagonists are at the stroke of the AVE, like the director who only has to shout “action!” for the magic to begin.