El jardín de las delicias, also known as The Garden of Delights in English language cinema, is a 1970 Spanish drama film co-written and directed by Carlos Saura.
The film was censored by contemporary Spanish censorship because of its Franco bourgeois satire and Spanish Civil War references.
Contents
Synopsis
Antonio Cano, age 45, is an important businessman who was severely injured in a car accident. Because of this, he is temporarily paralyzed and suffers memory loss. His family, friends and business associates all try to recreate scenes from his life in order to revive his memory which, little by little, does begin to return. Each day Antonio is placed in his beautiful garden where he relives many memories, both real and imagined.
The name is a reference to the Hieronymus Bosch painting The Garden of Earthly Delights.
Cultural significance
All of the striking scene changes and radical imagery are metaphors for the suppression and suffering of Spanish people in Francoist Spain, who could only speak out about their plight by means of allegorical films/stories such as El jardín de las delicias.
Cast
José Luis López Vázquez as Antonio
Luchy Soto as Luchy
Francisco Pierrá as Don Pedro
Esperanza Roy as Nicole
Antonio Acebal
Alberto Alonso as Tony
Eduardo Calvo
Antonio Canal as Friend 3
Lina Canalejas as Tía
Roberto Cruz
Ignacio de Paúl
Luisa Fernanda Gaona
José Nieto as Friend 1
Yamil Omar
Mayrata O'Wisiedo as Nurse
Julia Peña as Julia
Luis Peña as Friend
Marisa Porcel
Porfiria Sanchíz as (voice) (as Porfiría Sanchís)
Charo Soriano as Actress
Gloria Berrocal as (uncredited)
Geraldine Chaplin as (uncredited), she appears on church
Luis de Pablo as (uncredited)
Reception
John Simon described The Garden of Delights as a "near masterpiece".