La vaquilla
Encyclopedia
La vaquilla or The Heifer is a 1985 Spanish comedy film written and directed by Luis García Berlanga. It was the first comedy made about the Spanish Civil War
.
on the Aragón frontline
the speakers of the Nationalist troops announce a "Fiesta
" in a nearby village which includes a bullrun
and religious procession. A group of Republican
soldiers decide to infiltrate the Nationalist side to steal the animal for two reasons; to ruin the holiday for the Nationalists and because their food stores are low.
with many locals as extras.
In 2009 the village homaged the surviving artists.
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
Plot
During the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
on the Aragón frontline
Battle of the Ebro
The Battle of the Ebro was the longest and bloodiest battle of the Spanish Civil War...
the speakers of the Nationalist troops announce a "Fiesta
Fiesta
Fiesta, a Spanish word that means "party", "feast" or "festival", may refer to:-Film:*Fiesta , a 1941 American film directed by LeRoy Prinz*Fiesta , a 1947 MGM film starring Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalbán-Music:...
" in a nearby village which includes a bullrun
Bullrun
Bullrun is an American reality television series based on the trans-American Bullrun road rally of the same name. The televised version has 12 teams compete in a 4,000-mile 18-day road rally to win the grand prize of US$200,000. Bullrun uses a modified 12-car rally format.-Season 1:Season 1 of...
and religious procession. A group of Republican
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
soldiers decide to infiltrate the Nationalist side to steal the animal for two reasons; to ruin the holiday for the Nationalists and because their food stores are low.
Characters
- Brigada Castro (Alfredo LandaAlfredo LandaAlfredo Landa Areitio is a Spanish actor.- Biography :He was born in Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. He finished his pre-university studies in San Sebastián. He then began university studies on Law, where he began to work with university school groups...
), a professional Republican soldier. - Mariano (Guillermo Montesinos), a Republican soldier coming from a village across the frontline, where his girlfriend Guadalupe remained.
- Limeño (Santiago Ramos), a Republican soldier who was a bullfighter before the war. Chosen to kill the heifer, he has grown afraid of bulls.
- Lieutenat Broseta (José SacristánJosé SacristánJosé Sacristán is a famous Spanish film, theatre and television actor.He has directed three films:* Yo me bajo en la próxima, ¿y usted? * Cara de acelga * Soldados de plomo...
), a Republican officer who was a hairdresser before the war. He longs for his profession and threatens to punish failure with a headshave. - Priest (Carles Velat), a Republican soldier who almost became Catholic priest. He still remembers many mannierisms.
- Republican Colonel (Eduardo Calvo)
- Guadalupe (Violeta Cela), daughter of a Republican and girlfriend of the absent Republican Mariano, she is dating a Nationalist alférez.
- Nationalist Commander (Agustín GonzálezAgustín GonzálezAgustín González Martínez, was a Spanish actor.- Biography :He was brother of Manuel González, one of the members of Los Brincos....
), has to deal with his troops and the local aristocrats. - Juana (María Luisa PonteMaría Luisa PonteMaría Luisa Ponte was a Spanish actress. She appeared in over 135 films and television shows between 1952 and 1995...
), mother of Guadalupe, has to hide her Republican husband. - Alférez (Juanjo PuigcorbéJuanjo PuigcorbéJuanjo Puigcorbé is a Spanish actor. He has appeared in over 100 films and television shows since 1977. He starred in the 1993 film The Window Over the Way, which was entered into the 44th Berlin International Film Festival....
), a Nationalist officer courting Guadalupe. - The marquisMarquisMarquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
(Adolfo MarsillachAdolfo MarsillachAdolfo Marsillach Soriano was a Catalan actor, playwright and theatre director.He is the father of Spanish actresses Blanca Marsillach and Cristina Marsillach.-External links:...
) is the local aristocrat. He tries to convince the commander to push the front so that all his enormous estate (currently divided by the frontline), falls in the Nationalist side. His "inherited" goutGoutGout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
forbids him to walk.
Location
The film was shot mainly in Sos del Rey CatólicoSos del Rey Católico
Sos del Rey Católico is a historic town and municipality located in the comarca of Cinco Villas, province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain.-History:Sancho I of Pamplona founded Sos, in either 907 or 908, as a border town during the Reconquista....
with many locals as extras.
In 2009 the village homaged the surviving artists.