Bigas Luna – Spanish award winner film director, screenwriter and the discoverer of Penelope Cruz Javier Bardem – died on Saturday at his Catalonian house. He lost battle with cancer.
Bigas Luna’s best-known film – a satire – is titled Jamón, jamón (Ham, ham). The director gave the major roles to the then unknown Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, which gave both of them the major breakthrough. Bardem got another role in then next drama of Luna: Huevos oros (Golden balls) in 1993, while Cruz reappeared on screen in 1999 in Volavérunt.
Penelope Cruz has spoken out to express her sadness to El Pais and El Mundo, Spanish newspapers. She recalled the time she auditioned for a part in The Ages of Lulu, when she was only 17, for which reason Luna did not choose her, but said: ‘Well, you won’t make this movie, but I’ll call for another when you’re older.’ The star director kept his word and cast Cruz in her movie debut three years later, and she adds, “The phone rang and from then on I started to believe in miracles.
For “Jamón, jamón” Luna won the silver medal of the Venice Film Festival for his directorial work and two years later he awarded the best scenario award for “La teta y la luna”.
In the works of the Barcelona-born director sex, violence and passion play an important role. His name became internationally known in 1978 for the film Bilbao.
Luna was arguably one of the most important artists of the Spanish cinema of the last decade. Both Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem praised him as a special person. He lived for the day and was able to enjoy life’s little pleasures – Cruz said. “When I was with him, I felt like time stopped. Every moment was special, genuine, and almost unforgettable. I feel lucky that I could enjoy his company so that I could be close to him and admire his talent, humor and kindness. Bigas is very important to me. I will be always grateful for everything and he will live forever in my heart “- wrote the international star.
And the Skyfall star, who married Cruz in 2010, continues, “I don’t know where to begin. Luna gave me the woman I love and a career that I never dreamed I could have.”
source: mti
