Tasio

Tasio
Directed byMontxo Armendáriz
Screenplay by
  • Montxo Armendáriz
  • Marisa Ibarra
Produced byElías Querejeta
Starring
CinematographyJosé Luis Alcaine
Edited byPablo G. del Amo
Music byÁngel Illarramendi
Production
company
Elías Querejeta PC
Release date
CountrySpain
LanguageSpanish

Tasio is a 1984 Spanish drama film directed by Montxo Armendáriz, in his full-length debut. It stars Garikoitz Mendigutxia, Isidro José Solano and Patxi Bisquert as the titular character, a charcoal burner and poacher, at different stages of his life. The film became a staple of Basque cinema.[1]

The film had its world premiere at the 32nd San Sebastián International Film Festival on 19 September 1984.

Plot

The plot follows the life of Tasio, a poacher and charcoal burner moved by a deep conviction of living without being exploited.[2]

Cast

Production

Inspired by the real story of Anastasio Ochoa Ruiz, "Tasio" (1916–1989), the screenplay was penned by Montxo Armendáriz alongside Marisa Ibarra.[6] An Elías Querejeta PC production,[7] the film was fully shot in Spanish rather than Basque.[8] This decision stirred criticism among some Basque milieus.[9] Filming locations included the Urbasa range in Navarre.[3][10]

Release

The film premiered on 19 September 1984 at the 32nd San Sebastián International Film Festival.[11][12] A 4K version restored by Filmoteca Vasca at Bologna's L'immagine Ritrovata laboratory was screened at the Cannes Classics section of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and the Klasikoak programme of the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival.[13][14]

Reception

The film was enthusiastically received by the public and critics alike.[8] Diego Galán of El País described Tasio as a "film of haunting beauty".[15] Nina Darnton of The New York Times pointed out that the film "is undramatic and basically uneventful, but it is never boring".[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ Roldán Larreta, Carlos (2000). "En torno a la obra de Montxo Armendáriz" (PDF). Ikusgaiak. 4: 138.
  2. ^ Roldán Larreta, Carlos (1999). "El cine del País Vasco; de Ama Lur (1968) a Airbag (1997)" (PDF). Ikusgaiak. 3: 221.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Alejos, Nerea (22 August 2009). "El recuerdo de Tasio 25 años después". Diario de Navarra.
  4. ^ Argüelles, José Luis (20 November 2020). "El premio en recuerdo del actor Nacho Martínez deja de entregarse". La Nueva España. Prensa Ibérica.
  5. ^ a b c "Ficha técnico artística" (PDF). Un Día de Cine. Gobierno de Aragón. p. 6.
  6. ^ Oliveira Lizarribar, Ana (25 April 2025). "Una copia restaurada de 'Tasio', de Montxo Armendáriz, se proyectará en Cannes Classics". Noticias de Navarra.
  7. ^ Roldán Larreta 1999, p. 376.
  8. ^ a b Martínez 2023, p. 253.
  9. ^ Martínez, Josu (2023). "El euskera en el cine de los años 80: entre la falta de apoyo, la búsqueda del realismo y la condena a la diglosia". Zer. 28 (55): 253. doi:10.1387/zer.24665. hdl:10810/66370.
  10. ^ Caparrós Lera, José María (1992). El cine español de la democracia: de la muerte de Franco al "cambio" socialista (1975-1989). Barcelona: Anthropos. p. 270. ISBN 84-7658-312-5.
  11. ^ "El carbonero Tasio cumple 25 años". El País. 26 November 2009.
  12. ^ Fernández, Harri X. (25 April 2024). "La versión restaurada en 4K de 'Tasio', de Montxo Armendáriz, se estrenará en Cannes". Noticias de Gipuzkoa.
  13. ^ "TASIO". Festival de Cannes. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  14. ^ "La película 'Tasio' de Montxo Armendáriz vuelve a la gran pantalla en su 40 aniversario". Heraldo de Aragón. 16 December 2024.
  15. ^ Galán, Diego (25 September 1984). "Una película bella y limpia". El País.
  16. ^ Darnton, Nina (27 March 1987). "Film: 'Tasio,' a Look at Village Life in Spain's Basque County". The New York Times.