He is one of the most important directors in Spanish cinema. Trained at the Escuela Oficial de Cinematografía in Madrid, he made his debut in 1969 with an episode of Los desafíos, which he followed with El espíritu de la colmena (1973), a key work in modern European film, winner of the Golden Conch in San Sebastián. His next film came a decade later: El sur (1983) consolidated his style. In 1992 he directed El sol del membrillo, working together with painter Antonio López. The film was a winner at the Cannes festival. His subsequent work combines film, visual essays and artistic installation, including projects like Alumbramiento, La Morte Rouge and Piedra y cielo. After three years away from feature films, in 2023 he presented Cerrar los ojos, one of the most important films in recent cinema. Alongside this, he has worked as a teacher, essayist and speaker.
