Spanish director Jaime Chávarri begins shooting ‘Camarón’ in January

Flamenco-world.com, November 2004

The life of Camarón de la Isla comes to the big screen. On the one hand, Spanish filmmaker Jaime Chávarri is to begin shooting in January ‘Camarón’, a biographical film starring actor Óscar Jaenada. On the other hand, novel Catalan director Isaki Lacuesta is preparing ‘La leyenda del tiempo’ (‘The Legend of Time’), a fictional documentary about the figure of the Cádiz-born cantaor that he will begin filming in December.

Camarón de la Isla has been the muse of writers and researchers for a long time, but up until now, he had not been so for filmmakers. With a view to 2005, two film projects coincide in delving into the life, mythology and legacy of the cantaor from San Fernando. The film of greater magnitude will be ‘Camarón’ by Jaime Chávarri (Madrid, 1952), whose rights have already been acquired by Spanish Television. The director is scheduled to begin shooting in January 2005 this film which will go back over the life of the mythical artist on real stages in Cádiz, Madrid and the United States. Actor Óscar Jaenada will be the star of the movie, destined to be controversial. ‘Camarón’ will be the most ambitious enterprise of Chávarri's career to date, in whose film work titles stand out such as ‘El año del diluvio’ (2004), ‘Las cosas del querer’ (1989) and ‘Las bicicletas son para el verano’ (1984).

Camarón (Frames from DVD 'Rito y geografía del cante'. Volumen 26)

The other initiative about the flamenco artist for the big screen is ‘La leyenda del tiempo’, a fictional documentary directed by Isaki Lacuesta (Gerona, 1975). The Catalan filmmaker, who made his début with ‘Cravan vs. Cravan’ at the Sitges Festival, wants to go beyond the biography and include three stories related to the legendary cantaor. From the tale of a boy born in 1992, the year Camarón died, who wants to be a cantaor but whose wishes are dashed when his voice changes, to the reconstruction of an unknown recording by the cantaor at the age of fifteen and the life of those who accompanied the maestro at that time. The film will start shooting in December at different locations in San Fernando: Camarón's father's forge, the peña, streets and squares, the market and the salt mines. Casting for amateur actors has already been done in the town near Cádiz.

Camarón in the movies

Spanish cinema thus returns to Camarón de la Isla his collaborations for the big screen. The cantaor acted in ‘Casa Flora’ (1973) by Ramón Fernández, a comedy in which he sings the song ‘Sere... serenito’ on a motorcycle. He also appeared in ‘El amor brujo’ (1967) by Rovira Beleta, a film starring Antonio Gades and La Polaca. Camarón's last appearance in the movies was in ‘Sevillanas’ (1992) by Carlos Saura, a participation which moreover closed the cantaor's artistic career shortly before his death in the Catalan town of Santa Coloma de Gramanet.