''La colmena'' (tr. ''The Beehive'' or ''The Hive'') is a 1982

Spanish film Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Cana ...

directed by

Mario Camus Mario Camus García (20 April 1935 – 18 September 2021) was a Spanish film director and screenwriter. He won the Golden Bear at the 33rd Berlin International Film Festival with '' La colmena''. His 1987 film ''The House of Bernarda Alba'' wa ...

. Based on the novel '' The Hive'' by

Camilo José Cela Camilo José Cela y Trulock, 1st Marquess of Iria Flavia (; 11 May 1916 – 17 January 2002) was a Spanish novelist, poet, story writer and essayist associated with the Generation of '36 movement. He was awarded the 1989 Nobel Prize in Literat ...

, it depicts the aftermath of the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...

and its impact on several characters. Cela has a small role as Matías Martí.

Synopsis

The film is set in

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...

during the postwar period, beginning in 1942. The population suffers the consequences of the civil war. A group of members of a social gathering meet every day in the café La Delicia.

Cast

Victoria Abril Victoria Mérida Rojas (born 4 July 1959), better known as Victoria Abril, is a Spanish film actress and singer based in France. She is possibly best known to international audiences for her performance in the film ''Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!'' by ...

(Julita) *

Francisco Algora Francisco Javier Jiménez Algora (7 December 1948 – 30 March 2016) was a Spanish actor. He has appeared in more than 100 films and television shows between 1972 and 2012. He starred in the 1973 film ''Habla, mudita'', which was entered in ...

(Ramón Maello) *

Rafael Alonso Rafael Alonso Ochoa (5 July 1920 – 24 October 1998) was a Spanish actor. He appeared in more than 120 films and television shows between 1951 and 1998. Selected filmography * ''Malibran's Song'' (1951) * ''Welcome Mr. Marshall!'' (1953) ...

(Julián Suárez ''La fotógrafa'') *

Ana Belén María del Pilar Cuesta Acosta (born 27 May 1951, Madrid), known professionally as Ana Belén, is a Spanish actress and singer. Life/career Born in 1951, Ana Belén is the oldest of three children. Her father was a cook in Hotel Palace, and ...

(Victorita) *

José Bódalo José Bódalo Zúffoli (March 24, 1916 – July 24, 1985) was an Argentine born Spanish film actor. Biography Bódalo was born in Córdoba, Argentina, the son of Rome-born actress Eugenia Zúffoli and Spanish actor and singer José Bódalo, S ...

(Don Roque) *

Mary Carrillo María Carrillo Moreno (14 October 1919 - 31 July 2009) better known as Mary Carrillo was a Spanish actress. She appeared in more than fifty films from 1937 to 2002. Selected filmography References External links * 1919 births 20 ...

(Doña Asunción) *

(Matías Martí) *

Queta Claver Queta Claver (June 24, 1929 – May 3, 2003) was a Spanish actress, singer, and dancer, known for her " vedette" roles in stage revues. Early life Enriqueta Claver Delás was born in València, Spain in 1929 (some sources give 1932). Her mother wa ...

(Doña Matilde) * Luis Escobar (Don Ibrahim) *

Fiorella Faltoyano María Blanca Fiorella Renzi Gil ( María Blanca Gil Paradela; born 19 October 1949), better known as Fiorella Faltoyano, is a Spanish actress. Career Fiorella Faltoyano took dramatic studies, and in 1967 debuted in Nati Mistral's theater comp ...

(Filo) * Agustín González (Mario de la Vega) *

Emilio Gutiérrez Caba Emilio Gutiérrez Caba (born 26 September 1942) is a Spanish film and television actor. Personal Caba is the son of actors and Irene Caba Alba and brother of and Julia, both dedicated to acting too. From his mother side, he is the grandson of ...

(Ventura Aguado) * Rafael Hernández (Padilla) *

Charo López María del Rosario López Piñuelas (born 28 October 1943) better known as Charo López, is a Spanish actress. Filmography *Plan Jack cero tres (1967) *El hueso (1967) *La vida sigue igual (1969) *Ditirambo (1969) * El extraño caso del docto ...

(Nati Robles) *

José Luis López Vázquez José Luis López Vázquez de la Torre MML (11 March 1922, in Madrid – 2 November 2009, in Madrid) was a Spanish actor. Career José Luis López Vázquez was born in Madrid, Spain, on 11 March 1922. He originally worked in theater as a costume ...

(Leonardo Meléndez) *

Antonio Mingote Ángel Antonio Mingote Barrachina, 1st Marquess of Daroca (17 January 19193 April 2012), also simply known as Mingote, was a Spanish cartoonist, writer and journalist. He drew a daily cartoon in ABC since 1953 until his death in 2012. Biograph ...

(Señor de luto) * Mario Pardo (Rubio Antofagasta) *

Encarna Paso María de la Encarnación Paso Ramos (25 March 1931 – 18 August 2019), better known as Encarna Paso, was a Spanish film and television actress. Biography Daughter of playwright Antonio Paso Díaz, granddaughter of Antonio Paso y Cano and n ...

(madre de Victorita) *

María Luisa Ponte María Luisa Ponte Mancini (21 June 1918 – 2 May 1996) was a Spanish actress. She appeared in more than 130 films and television shows between 1952 and 1995. She appeared in the 1977 film ''Black Litter'', which was entered into the 27th ...

(Doña Rosa) *

Elvira Quintillá Elvira Quintillá (19 September 1928 – 27 December 2013) was a Spanish actress, whose career spanned over six decades. Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Quintillá began her acting career in 1941, appearing on stage. She married actor José Mar� ...

(Doña Visitación) *

Francisco Rabal Francisco Rabal Valera (8 March 1926 – 29 August 2001), better known as Paco Rabal, was a Spanish actor, director, and screenwriter born in Águilas, a town in the south-western part of the province of Murcia, Spain. Throughout his career, Raba ...

(Ricardo Sorbedo) *

Antonio Resines Antonio Fernández Resines (born 7 August 1954) professionally known as Antonio Resines, is a Spanish film and television actor known for his performance in comedy films and series. Biography He was born 'by accident' on 7 August 1954 in Torr ...

(Pepe ''El Astilla'') *

José Sacristán José María Sacristán Turiégano (born 27 September 1937), better known as José Sacristán, is a Spanish film, theatre, and television actor. At Gijón International Film Festival in 2015, he received the Nacho Martinez Award. At the 60 ...

(Martín Marco López) *

José Sazatornil José Sazatornil Buendía (13 August 1925 – 23 July 2015) was a Spanish actor who appeared in numerous films since making his debut in 1946. Biography He was born in Barcelona on 13 August 1925. He was the son of the owner of a small shop in ...

(Tesifonte Ovejero) *

Elena María Tejeiro Elena María Tejeiro is a Spanish film and television actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as fi ...

(Señorita Elvira) *

Ricardo Tundidor Ricardo is the Spanish and Portuguese cognate of the name Richard. It derived from Proto-Germanic ''*rīks'' 'king, ruler' + ''*harduz'' 'hard, brave'. It may be a given name, or a surname. People Given name *Ricardo de Araújo Pereira, Portugue ...

(Roberto González) *

Concha Velasco Concepción Velasco Varona OAXS MML (born 29 November 1939), known professionally as Concha Velasco, or Conchita Velasco in her beginnings, is a Spanish actress, singer and television presenter. She has received numerous accolades throughou ...

(Purita) *

Manuel Zarzo Manuel López Zarza (born 26 April 1932) better known as Manuel Zarzo is a Spanish film actor. He has appeared in more than 150 films since 1951. Selected filmography * '' Day by Day'' (1951) * '' Love in a Hot Climate'' (1954) * ''Cursed Mo ...

(Consorcio López) *

Imanol Arias Manuel María Arias Domínguez (born 26 April 1956 in Riaño, León, Spain) better known as Imanol Arias, is a Spanish actor and film director. Career Imanol Arias began his career with a travelling theatre group performing in the Basque C ...

(Novio de Victorita) *

Luis Barbero Luis Barbero Fernández (8 August 1916 – 3 August 2005) was a Spanish actor. He appeared in more than 150 films and television shows between 1957 and 2001. In 2000, he was awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Spanish Actors ...

(Pepe) *

Luis Ciges Luis Ciges Martínez (10 May 1921 – 11 December 2002) was a Spanish film actor. He appeared in 140 films between 1958 and 2002. His father was Manuel Ciges. Selected filmography * ''Historias de Madrid'' (1958) - Bombero (uncredited) * ...

(Don Casimiro) * Marta Fernández Muro (Amparito) *

Miguel Rellán Miguel Ángel Rellán García (7 November 1942) is a Spanish actor. He was the first actor to win a Goya Award for Best Supporting Actor for ''Tata mía ''Dear Nanny'' ( es, Tata mía) is a 1986 Spanish drama film directed and written by Jos ...

(Cliente del prostíbulo) *

José Vivó José Vivó (19 May 1917 – 26 July 1989) was a Spanish television, theater and film actor. Life He studied engineering, but the Spanish Civil War forced him to leave his studies unfinished. He fought on the side of the Republican army and ...

(Prestamista)

Awards

The film was entered into the

33rd Berlin International Film Festival The 33rd annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 18 February to 1 March 1983. The festival opened with the out of competition film, ''Tootsie'' by Sydney Pollack. The Golden Bear was awarded to the British film '' Ascendancy'' ...

where it won the

Golden Bear The Golden Bear (german: Goldener Bär) is the highest prize awarded for the best film at the Berlin International Film Festival. The bear is the heraldic animal of Berlin, featured on both the coat of arms and flag of Berlin. History The winn ...

References

External links

* 1982 films 1982 drama films Spanish drama films 1980s Spanish-language films Films based on Spanish novels Spanish Civil War films Films directed by Mario Camus Golden Bear winners Films set in the 1940s Madrid in fiction Spain in fiction Films set in restaurants Camilo José Cela 1980s Spanish films {{SpanishCivilWar-film-stub