''Umbracle'' is an

experimental An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when ...

feature film by

Catalan Catalan may refer to: Catalonia From, or related to Catalonia: * Catalan language, a Romance language * Catalans, an ethnic group formed by the people from, or with origins in, Northern or southern Catalonia Places * 13178 Catalan, asteroid #1 ...

filmmaker

Pere Portabella Pere Portabella i Ràfols (; born in 1927) is a Spanish politician, director, and producer. In 1977, he was elected Senator in Spain's first democratic elections and participated in the writing of the Spanish Constitution. As a filmmaker, his s ...

. It is often seen as a companion piece to his ''

Cuadecuc, vampir ''Vampir-Cuadecuc'' is a 1970 Spanish experimental feature film written, produced, and directed by Pere Portabella. It stars Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom, Soledad Miranda, and Jack Taylor. The film tells an abbreviated version of the Dracula s ...

'', also starring

Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a long career spanning more than 60 years, Lee often portrayed villains, and appeared as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, ultimat ...

. Both films were completed in 1970, though ''Umbracle'' was not shown until 1972. Like ''Cuadeuc'', the entire film is photographed on different kinds of high contrast black & white film stock and features a sound track by frequent Portabella collaborator

Carles Santos Carles Santos (; 1 July 1940 – 4 December 2017) was a Spanish artist who began his career as a pianist and later worked in many other creative disciplines, including musical composition, filmmaking, screenwriting, acting, scenic musical shows ...

. Unlike ''Cuadecuc'', ''Umbracle'' features several scenes of synchronized sound, including a notable scene where Christopher Lee recites

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wide ...

's "

The Raven "The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover who is paid a myste ...

" and sings opera in an empty theatre, and a lengthy sequence of Spanish filmmakers discussing

censorship Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...

in their country very frankly, their statements later reinforced by a nearly 15-minute segment from a pro-

Franco Franco may refer to: Name * Franco (name) * Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975 * Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician, the "Grand Maître" Prefix * Franco, a prefix used when ref ...

film. Any sound effects used in the film usually have no relation to the scenes themselves, for example the sound of a telephone ringing can be heard in a scene where Lee witnesses a kidnapping, or people shouting solfa at different intensities whilst Lee walks the street. From the official web site: "As in Vampir-Cuadecuc, this film turns on two basic axes: the inquiry into ways of cinematographic representation and a critical image of official Spain at the time of the

Francoist State Francoist Spain ( es, España franquista), or the Francoist dictatorship (), was the period of Spanish history between 1939 and 1975, when Francisco Franco ruled Spain after the Spanish Civil War with the title . After his death in 1975, Spai ...

. "Montage ofattractions" and Brechtianism in strong doses. Umbracle is made up of fragments (some are archive footage) that resound rather than progress by unusual links, with dejá vu scenes that promise us more but remaintensely unfinished. Jonathan Rosembaun said: "few directors since Resnais have played so ruthlessly with the unconscious narrative expectations to bug us". Learning from the feeling of strangeness caused by Rossellini as he threw well known actors into savage scenery in southern Europe.""

References

External links

* * * Spanish avant-garde and experimental films 1972 films 1970s Spanish-language films Spanish independent films Films directed by Pere Portabella 1970s Spanish films 1972 independent films 1970s avant-garde and experimental films {{1970s-Spain-film-stub