Madrid (EFE) Minister of Culture, Miquel Iceta, explained like few others “what we were and what we are”.
Iceta and the Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Pilar Alegría, have presented Saura’s widow, Eulalia Ramón, with this distinction that was granted to her by the Government last February for her “indisputable contribution to Spanish culture and art ”.
The delivery took place at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Culture, which was attended by two of Saura’s children, Ana and Antonio, as well as friends of the filmmaker and the general director of the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts, Ignasi Camós, among others. Iceta has explained that this distinction is added to the many others that he received in life and that he stands out for his humanist vocation.
A work that will last forever
Because, Iceta recalled, Saura was not only an exponent of cinema but a humanist who educated and will educate many generations of Spanish women and whose work “will endure forever.”
“We are indebted to his work, his career and his way of working and that is what we honor here”, stressed the Minister of Culture.
The Minister of Education has also highlighted how the Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X El Sabio is awarded to people who distinguish themselves in different fields, and the career of Carlos Saura in the world of culture “gives plenty of reasons” to this recognition.
Alegría recalled the new forms of language introduced by Saura and his vision, a professional who achieved something so difficult to maintain as “authenticity”, which is his great legacy, along with his creative capacity and freedom, he pointed out.
advocate of popular culture
Saura’s widow has received this recognition that, she has indicated, would make the filmmaker absolutely happy because he always defended the values that symbolize the Grand Cross.
Saura valued popular culture, said Eulalia Ramón, who recalled her great passion for what she did as well as her freedom to live, create and defend culture “as the only possible weapon”.
Carlos Saura (Huesca, 1932-Madrid, 2023) was the creator of works such as “Los golfos” (1960), “La caza” (1965), “Cría Cuervos” (1975) or “¡Ay, Carmela!” (1990), films with which he achieved international recognition and awards at major international festivals, such as the Golden Bear for Best Film and two Silver Bears for Best Director at the Berlin Festival, or the Grand Jury Prize in the Cannes Film Festival. EFE