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There
are cities, moments and people I've known who have left an indelible
print on me. They were unexpected images at times (for example,
In Ivory Coast we found a river on our way to a village.
I like rivers; it's probably the only thing I miss from my childhood
days. This was not deep, but pretty wide indeed. It was full of
young black men washing their family's clothes buttocks-deep in
the water. It's a beautiful image I'll never forget). Another unexpected
image of blasting beauty revealed itself to me at Bar Tenampa,
in Mexico D.F. It's right on Plaza Garibaldi. They
rightfully call it the Mariachi Cathedral and it's a place
not much bigger than the Cafe Gijon in Madrid. There
are several mariachis at the general disposal; people hire them
for the song or the night. Sometimes when the place is full they're
all playing at the same time. That means hearing 6 or 7 orchestras
playing in a small place just a few meters from one another. It's
something to witness, otherwise it sounds like a nightmare. Because
due to a strange harmony, the mix of instruments and songs sounds
wonderful on location. People say, or legend has it, that at hearing
it, Stravinsky said: "This is what I've wanted to compose
all my life." Just like when Breton stated: "In
Mexico surrealism becomes naturalism." They were both
right.
I've enjoyed other magic moments (I hate that word but can't think
of another). In Havana, Istanbul, Bayahibe
(a tiny beach in the Dominican Republic), Barcelona
and Seville -to mention but a few.
Other times it's people that amaze me whatever the place and situation.
Lola Flores was one of those people.
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I have a thorn in my side for
not having taken more advantage of her existence. We had planned
a trip to Jerez for her to show me the actual art that city hides,
but we couldn't make it because she Lola went further than Jerez.
Even though I didn't tell her explicitly, I was also considering
the possibility of directing her in one of those great plays that
seem tailored for her colossal size (Bernarda Alba, The
Tattooed Rose, Mother Courage).
Lola is one of the great personalities I've met in my life, together
with Jeanne Moreau, Chavela Vargas, Lauren Bacall,
Maria Riva, Marlene Dietrich's daughter... all women.
Making an effort I also come up with men's names (Antonio Lopez,
the painter, and Ingmar Bergman). When I saw "Shame"
(a film I recommend despite its sounding boring at first) I was
tremendously envious of Liv Ullman for playing one
of the cruelest and prettiest roles I've heard in movies. I'm at
the point of asking Mr. Bergman that I'd love to direct whatever
he has "in view." The same thing happens with Moreau and
Bacall. I don't want them to let them go like I did with Lola. I'm
looking for plots specially developed for them. I love them not
just as actresses (I love hundreds of actresses); it's been after
meeting them that I've started feeling the urge. Humbly speaking,
I think I've been very lucky coming against them.
Just like with Pina Bausch, she also rose that feeling in
me, a feeling so hard to explain only nature, chance and genial
artists can arise. Ever since I found her in Madrid years ago, I've
gone to every show of hers like a groupie. I've just shot her in
one of her masterpieces "Café Müller"
and she will appear in one of my two next movies. I have plans for
Caetano Veloso as well. He has also enriched my life.
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