She is the Matador
plus skype director Q&A
UK PREMIERE
Filmmaker: Celeste Carrasco & Gemma Cubero del Barrio
USA / 2009 / 62 min / Spanish with (English Subtitles)
Awards: Winner: Best Doc, Cuenca Film Festival
ICA Cinema 2, March 5, 6,45pm & ICA Cinema 2, March 6, 6.30pm
Fascinating insights into the role of the matador in Spanish culture, and the women who dare to face the bull.
Bullfighting. Whether you admire or despise it, Spain’s passion for its national sport/art remains phenomenal. Ella Es El Matador plunges expertly into the history of female matadors, fighting for recognition until a 1908 law barred women from the sport. The doc’s lens zooms in on two of the gender pioneers currently trying to work in the ‘industry’: Mari Paz Vega, who is struggling for main arena fights, and Italian Eva Florencia, who is facing the possible collapse of her dream.
“stunning moments ... both poetic and frightening.” Austin Chronicle
Celeste Carrasco & Gemma Cubero del Barrio
Celeste Carrasco & Gemma Cubero del Barrio run the Talcual Films production company and She Is The Matador is their joint directorial debut. Gemma moved from journalism into production, and has worked with Julio Medem on Spanish docs What's Under Your Hat and One Percent:Schizophrenia. Celeste has worked with veteran documentarist Lourdes Portillo and is currently based at the Madrid Opera House.