Spanish and Latin American Filmmakers The Films of Bigas Luna

The first comprehensive English-language study of Bigas Luna's complete filmography, this book explores genre, gender representation, Iberian and Mediterranean identities, and meta-cinematic narratives. It can be read as a cohesive study of his oeuvre or as a reference for specific films. The films of Bigas Luna is the first volume in English to examine the entire filmography of one of Spain’s most renowned contemporary filmmakers, from his debut film Tatuaje/Tattoo (1976) to his last DiDi Hollywood (2010). It is also the first in any language to offer in-depth analyses of each of Bigas Luna’s sixteen feature films. Informed by theories of haptic cinema, erotic cinema, auteur, star, gender, sexuality and national identity studies, the book contextualises a close analysis of each film with a detailed discussion of production and marketing, establishing an insightful conversation with previous Bigas Luna studies in multiple languages that approached his oeuvre from a wide range of perspectives. Fouz Hernández examines an impressively wide range of materials, including original screenplays, press cuttings, marketing materials, and interviews with cast members and prominent professionals in the Spanish film industry who worked in these films. Organised into five chapters that focus on issues such as genre, gender, Iberian and Mediterranean identities or meta-filmic narratives, the book is the most comprehensive study of Bigas Luna’s filmography.The culmination of over a decade of work, including other publications, a touring Bigas Luna retrospective in thirty world cities and a sixty-episode podcast series, this book is destined to become the ultimate reference volume for studying the works of one of Europe’s most prominent and provocative filmmakers in recent decades. The films of Bigas Luna is the first comprehensive English-language study of the complete filmography of Spanish filmmaker Bigas Luna, spanning from Tatuaje (1976) to DiDi Hollywood (2010).Engaging with theoretical frameworks such as haptic cinema, erotic cinema, auteur theory, and studies of gender, sexuality, and national identity, the book situates close readings of Bigas Luna’s films within broader discussions of production and marketing. Fouz Hernández draws on extensive archival research—including original screenplays, press materials, and interviews with industry professionals—while engaging with previous scholarship in multiple languages.Structured into five thematic chapters, the book explores key concerns in Bigas Luna’s work, including genre, gender representation, Iberian and Mediterranean identities, and meta-cinematic narratives. It can be read as a cohesive study of his oeuvre or as a reference for specific films.