Making Cinema, Thinking Cinema: Reflexive Practices in Spanish Film-Making

Abstract

[EN] The aim of this article is to map a history of reflexive practices in Spanish cinema. To this end, I will explore how Spanish film-makers have expressed their relationship with cinema on screen through their personal reflections. In doing so, I will attempt to answer the following questions: How do Spanish film-makers carry out reflexive practices? What techniques, strategies and resources do they apply to express their personal reflections? What cinematic issues do they draw attention to in their films? I will therefore explore those films that may be considered as representing the different reflexive practices that have characterized Spanish cinema to date. Instead of a superficial analysis of a wide range of practices, I will focus on four specific aspects: (1) reception (allegories of spectatorships'); (2) the making-of' (the other side of the shot); (3) allusions to film history; and, finally, (4) variations and parodic approaches.