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Bigas Luna is a Director, Scriptwriter and Producer Espagnol born on 19 march 1946 at Barcelona (Espagne)

Bigas Luna

Bigas Luna
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Birth name José Juan Bigas Luna
Nationality Espagne
Birth 19 march 1946 at Barcelona (Espagne)
Death 6 april 2013 (at 67 years) at La Riera de Gaià (Espagne)

Juan José Bigas Luna (19 March 1946 – 6 April 2013) was a Spanish film director, designer and artist. His films are typically characterised by a strong emphasis on the erotic, often related to food, something for which he admitted a strong passion. His work often explores and parodies clichés of Spanish identity, but he had an international career and has made films in the Spanish, Catalan, French and English languages.

Biography

Early career
He began his professional career working in interior and industrial design, creating the Estudio Gris with Carlos Riart in 1969. His designs during the 1960s showed a great interest in conceptual art and the emerging visual technologies. He won the Gold Delta Award ADI/FAD 1970.

He moved into movie making in the 1970s, making low-budget shorts with erotic themes. In 1976 he shot his first feature film, Tattoo, achieving notoriety in 1978 with the sexually explict Bilbao, which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival.


Organic farm
In 1986 he retired to Tarragona in order to devote his time to painting, while raising his three daughters. He and his wife Celia ran an organic farm which produced wine, ham and other organic products. Luna enjoyed the life of a bon vivant.


Return to film
In 1990 the producer Andrés Vicente Gómez persuaded him to return to cinema and entrusted to him the direction of Las edades de Lulú (The Ages of Lulu), an erotic drama about a young woman exploring extreme sexual practices. This was a commercial success. Without abandoning his dedication to painting and photography, reflected in numerous exhibitions, he began the well-known "Iberian Trilogy" with Jamón Jamón ("Ham, Ham", 1992), Huevos de Oro ("Golden Balls", 1993) and La teta y la luna ("The Tit and the Moon", 1994). These films "explored the darkest depths of eroticism and stereotypical Spanish machismo." Jamón Jamón, which launched the careers of both Javier Bardem and the 16 year old Penélope Cruz was a major international success and won the Silver Lion at Venice in 1992. Cruz returned in Volavérunt (1999), a film about the relationship between Francisco Goya and the Duchess of Alba.

Subsequently, with the short film for the internet Collar de Moscas (2001), he revived his interest in avant-garde experimentation and audiovisual formats and at the same time he discovered a vocation for the investigation of digital cinema after the creation of the Taller Bigas Luna project with Catalina Pons in 1999. The experience in the Taller introduced them to the world of new technologies and in 2002 they promoted PLATAFORM BL, dedicated to the creation and promotion of innovative projects and new talents.


Other projects
Bigas Luna's varied career as a filmmaker, painter and designer made him a very singular and interdisciplinary artist. An example of that is his project called "Microcosmos", an evolution of the earlier Cares de l'Ànima which was exhibited in the Galería Metropolitana de Barcelona in 1990. It can now be found on a web site (see external links below), where the visitor can modify and select the works and become, in this way, the creator.

Bigas Luna directed and produced a large-scale multimedia installation for the Spain Pavilion at Shanghai Expo 2010, named Origins, as the first part of the Pavilion's trilogy on exhibition. The installation fused live Flamenco dance, sculpture and videos on more than 20 projectors.

From 2008 to 2012, Bigas took on the art direction of the oldest musical café in Europe, El Plata, in Zaragoza (Spain). There, he created a cabaret show classified as "Cabaret Ibérico" based on parodies, eroticism, the old burlesque, etc., accompanied by the typical dishes from Spain, such as paella, ham or Spanish omelette.

He died of leukemia on 5 April 2013, while working on the film adaptation of Manuel de Pedrolo's novel Mecanoscrit del segon origen.

Usually with

Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Bigas Luna (12 films)

Display filmography as list

Director

DiDi Hollywood, 1h36
Directed by Bigas Luna
Genres Drama
Actors Elsa Pataky, Peter Coyote, Paul Sculfor, Flora Martínez, Ana de la Reguera, Leonardo García
Rating37% 1.8788951.8788951.8788951.8788951.878895
Fatiguée des opportunités sans lendemain, Diana décide de tenter sa chance à Miami dans le showbiz latino. De castings publicitaires en agents douteux, ses espoirs s'amenuisent lorsque s'offre à elle l'opportunité de s'envoler pour Hollywood. Là-bas, elle devra trouver en elle la force qui mène une étoile au sommet.
My Name Is Juani, 1h40
Directed by Bigas Luna
Genres Drama, Comedy
Actors Verónica Echegui, Dani Martín
Rating51% 2.5625652.5625652.5625652.5625652.562565
Juani comes from a very poor background, having grown up in a poor suburban village of Spain. She has problems at home and argues incessantly with her boyfriend, with whom she has been since she was 15. Soon his infidelity and overall uselessness, as well as the limitations of her poor and small town, become unbearable for Juani, a girl with big dreams and aspirations. She and her best friend leave for Madrid in search of a better life. At first the big city, a complete opposite of their hometown, couldn't seem to be a better place for their adolescent expectations of life. But their naïve dreams are soon shattered by the ruthlessness of their dream city. In a visit home Juani almost decides she will not return to Madrid, and will instead come back to old relationships and live again in her parents' house. She expresses these sentiments to her mother who tells her that she loves Juani's father, but always asks herself what her life would have been like had she left, like Juani. After speaking to her mother Juani realizes that she can not give up just because she has been having a hard time in Madrid. In a tearful finale, she decides to return to Madrid with less naïve expectations, hoping to escape the abusive relationship she has with her boyfriend and the future she would have were she to stay in her town. The moral of the story becomes clear: never forget what you set out to get, despite the struggles that come your way, and never give up on your dreams.
Sound of the Sea, 1h35
Directed by Bigas Luna
Genres Drama, Romance
Actors Jordi Mollá, Leonor Watling, Eduard Fernández
Rating58% 2.949072.949072.949072.949072.94907
Ulises arrives in a coastal town near Valencia to teach literature. He rents a room at a local hostel and immediately falls in love with Martina, the landlord's daughter as he sees her hanging up her clothes on the clothesline. A local businessman by the name of Sierra is also in love with her but she resists his advances. Martina invites Ulises to see the Son de Mar, a yacht on which a film had been made years before, when she was 13 years old. Her dream is to purchase it when she becomes rich.
The Chambermaid on the Titanic, 1h39
Directed by Bigas Luna
Origin France
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, RMS Titanic in fiction, Disaster films, Films about seafaring accidents or incidents
Actors Romane Bohringer, Olivier Martinez, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Didier Bezace, Aldo Maccione, Jean-Marie Juan
Rating65% 3.297743.297743.297743.297743.29774
In 1912, the protagonist, Horty, leads an uneventful life as a foundry worker in the Lorraine region of northern France with his wife, Zoe, "the most beautiful woman in town." The owner of the foundry where Horty works, Simeon, lusts after Zoe. When Horty wins a company athletic contest, Simeon's prize is a ticket to Southampton to see the sailing of the Titanic.
Bambola
Bambola (1996)

Directed by Bigas Luna
Genres Drama, Comedy
Actors Anita Ekberg, Valeria Marini, Stefano Dionisi, Jorge Perugorría
Rating45% 2.253712.253712.253712.253712.25371
Les amours tragiques de Bambola et de son frère homosexuel Flavio, qui tiennent une trattoria au bord d'un fleuve.
The Tit and the Moon, 1h30
Directed by Bigas Luna
Origin Espagne
Genres Drama, Comedy, Romantic comedy
Themes Films about sexuality, Erotic films
Actors Mathilda May, Gérard Darmon, Laura Mañá, Abel Folk, Javier Bardem
Rating62% 3.148463.148463.148463.148463.14846
The film is about a nine-year-old boy's (Biel Durán as Tete) obsession with women's breasts. Tete becomes jealous of his baby brother who is breast fed by their mother. Tete goes on a personal mission to find the perfect pair of lactating breasts to feed on. A beautiful Portuguese dancer (Mathilda May) arrives in town, the answer to Tete's prayers. Unfortunately for Tete, Estrellita is the attention of many men's affections including her husband Maurice (Gérard Darmon), an older man working as the other half of her travelling act, and attractive Flamenco-singing teenager, Miguel (Miguel Poveda). With this amount of competition will Tete fulfil his wish?
Golden Balls, 1h35
Directed by Bigas Luna
Origin Espagne
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama
Themes Films about sexuality, Bisexuality-related films, LGBT-related film, Lesbian-related films
Actors Javier Bardem, Maria de Medeiros, Maribel Verdú, Alessandro Gassmann, Benicio del Toro, Élisa Tovati
Rating60% 3.0444653.0444653.0444653.0444653.044465
Benito González is a flamboyant engineer in Melilla, with a brash and pushy personality. His dream is to build the tallest building ever in the region. After his girlfriend leaves him, he devotes himself entirely to his ambitions, deciding to let nothing get in his way. He marries the daughter of a billionaire, intending to use her father's money to realise his project. Benito waltzes his way through a career of excess, fetishes and deceptions, but the personal conflicts he unleashes ultimately send his life spiraling down to disaster.
Jamon Jamon, 1h35
Directed by Bigas Luna
Origin Espagne
Genres Drama, Comedy, Romance
Themes Films about sexuality, Erotic films
Actors Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Jordi Mollá, Stefania Sandrelli, Anna Galiena
Rating63% 3.1979253.1979253.1979253.1979253.197925
Silvia, a beautiful girl, sews underwear at an underwear factory owned by José Luis' family and prepares omelettes (tortillas de patatas) for extra income. After missing two periods, Silvia reveals to José that she is pregnant, expecting him to react negatively. However, to Silvia's surprise and delight, José Luis expresses his love for her and desire for her to go through with the pregnancy. He romantically picks up the ring from a soda can he finds on the ground and places it on her finger and tells her they will get married. Despite the apparent monetary worthlessness of this item, Silvia cherishes it and all that it symbolises.
The Ages of Lulu, 1h35
Directed by Bigas Luna
Genres Drama
Themes Films about families, Films about sexuality, Erotic films, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film
Actors Francesca Neri, Javier Bardem, María Barranco, Fernando Guillén Cuervo, Rosana Pastor, Pilar Bardem
Rating55% 2.7751652.7751652.7751652.7751652.775165
The fifteen-year-old Lulú is seduced by Pablo, her brother Marcelo's best friend, who then leaves to work in the United States. Lulú is sustained for years by the belief that Pablo will come back into her life. When he returns he proposes to her and they are married. Pablo and Lulú have a passionate relationship, developing a taste for sexual games. On one nocturnal expedition they join up with a transgender prostitute called Ely who becomes their friend. The couple have a daughter, Ines. Pablo convinces Lulú to participate blindfolded in a threesome; when Lulú discovers that the third person was Marcelo, her brother, she leaves Pablo in disgust, taking their daughter with her. However, her own desire to play increasingly dangerous sex games now comes to consume her. After becoming aroused watching a gay porn movie, she seeks out gay men and pays them to join in orgies, or watch them having sex. Unable to pay enough to satisfy her desires, she meets a pimp called Remy who runs a secret S&M club. Ely tries to warn Lulú that Remy is dangerous, but Lulú ignores her, so Ely goes to warn Pablo. Remy tells Lulú to go to a club, where she is tied up by Jimmy, a gay man she had previously paid for sex. She is forced to endure violent sex while gagged and bound. Ely tells Pablo that Lulú is in danger. She goes to the club to rescue her, but is attacked by Jimmy and killed when her head hits a metal bar. Pablo calls the police, who arrest Jimmy and the others. Lulú and Pablo are reunited.
Anguish
Anguish (1987)
, 1h22
Directed by Bigas Luna
Origin Espagne
Genres Thriller, Horror, Crime, Slasher
Themes Medical-themed films, Serial killer films, Films about disabilities, La cécité
Actors Zelda Rubinstein, Michael Lerner, Isabel García Lorca, Craig Hill
Rating66% 3.343733.343733.343733.343733.34373
During the film you are about to see, you will be subject to subliminal messages and mild hypnosis. This will cause you no physical harm or lasting effect, but if for any reason you lose control or feel
Poodle
Poodle (1979)
, 1h26
Directed by Bigas Luna
Origin Espagne
Rating60% 3.0456953.0456953.0456953.0456953.045695
Angel et sa sœur Eloisa vivent dans une grande maison héritée d'une vieille tante récemment décédée. Petit à petit, une étrange relation se met en place entre eux deux et Dani, un caniche un peu trop présent...

Scriptwriter

DiDi Hollywood, 1h36
Directed by Bigas Luna
Genres Drama
Actors Elsa Pataky, Peter Coyote, Paul Sculfor, Flora Martínez, Ana de la Reguera, Leonardo García
Rating37% 1.8788951.8788951.8788951.8788951.878895
Fatiguée des opportunités sans lendemain, Diana décide de tenter sa chance à Miami dans le showbiz latino. De castings publicitaires en agents douteux, ses espoirs s'amenuisent lorsque s'offre à elle l'opportunité de s'envoler pour Hollywood. Là-bas, elle devra trouver en elle la force qui mène une étoile au sommet.
My Name Is Juani, 1h40
Directed by Bigas Luna
Genres Drama, Comedy
Actors Verónica Echegui, Dani Martín
Rating51% 2.5625652.5625652.5625652.5625652.562565
Juani comes from a very poor background, having grown up in a poor suburban village of Spain. She has problems at home and argues incessantly with her boyfriend, with whom she has been since she was 15. Soon his infidelity and overall uselessness, as well as the limitations of her poor and small town, become unbearable for Juani, a girl with big dreams and aspirations. She and her best friend leave for Madrid in search of a better life. At first the big city, a complete opposite of their hometown, couldn't seem to be a better place for their adolescent expectations of life. But their naïve dreams are soon shattered by the ruthlessness of their dream city. In a visit home Juani almost decides she will not return to Madrid, and will instead come back to old relationships and live again in her parents' house. She expresses these sentiments to her mother who tells her that she loves Juani's father, but always asks herself what her life would have been like had she left, like Juani. After speaking to her mother Juani realizes that she can not give up just because she has been having a hard time in Madrid. In a tearful finale, she decides to return to Madrid with less naïve expectations, hoping to escape the abusive relationship she has with her boyfriend and the future she would have were she to stay in her town. The moral of the story becomes clear: never forget what you set out to get, despite the struggles that come your way, and never give up on your dreams.
The Chambermaid on the Titanic, 1h39
Directed by Bigas Luna
Origin France
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, RMS Titanic in fiction, Disaster films, Films about seafaring accidents or incidents
Actors Romane Bohringer, Olivier Martinez, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Didier Bezace, Aldo Maccione, Jean-Marie Juan
Rating65% 3.297743.297743.297743.297743.29774
In 1912, the protagonist, Horty, leads an uneventful life as a foundry worker in the Lorraine region of northern France with his wife, Zoe, "the most beautiful woman in town." The owner of the foundry where Horty works, Simeon, lusts after Zoe. When Horty wins a company athletic contest, Simeon's prize is a ticket to Southampton to see the sailing of the Titanic.