Spain has a huge wealth of talented filmmakers and directors, with huge names like Guillermo del Toro making their way firmly into the English-speaking world. The country has pushed the boundaries and covered new ground in film for decades, with directors like Pedro Almodóvar producing films that are still studied, talked about and watched frequently decades later. This is a list for anyone looking for an introductory overview of film and tv from Spain; a starting-point for all cinephiles wanting to diversify their watchlist!

Las Chicas Del Cable (2017): Las Chicas Del Cable centres around four women in Madrid in the interwar period. Being a sucker for a historical drama, I was bound to enjoy this. The series does well in charting the subtle changes in fashion throughout the 1920s and 1930s, and approaches the period with a refreshingly feminist lens, even breaking ground with representations of queerness in this period.

“The country has pushed the boundaries and covered new ground in film for decades”

Elite (2018): You have to look past the completely inaccurate portrayal of the high school experience to enjoy this one, but once you do, it’s extremely entertaining. Elite focuses on a group of over-privileged kids at a private school in Madrid, and tips their world upside down when three new students from the local state school join. Elite has sex, drugs, and endless drama, and significant queer representation. It explores all sorts of social issues within the context of modern Spain, and has a star-studded cast including Danna Paola and Ester Expósito.

Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios (1988): It couldn’t be a Spanish recommendations list without a Pedro Almodóvar film. Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios (Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) is so fascinating that it has been turned into a musical. Almodóvar’s aesthetic choices are the epitome of 1980s vibrancy, and the script is witty and interesting. This film in particular is interesting in terms of its portrayal and treatment of women, which is highly complex in a post-fascist context in Spain, and even more so by a male director.

“Víctor Erice is another director operating in the post-fascist context of the Pacto Del Olvido”

Carmen (1983): Once again, we couldn’t curate an introductory Spanish watchlist without approaching Carlos Saura. Carmen is a particularly haunting example of Saura’s work, which is characterised by a fascination with flamenco and choreofilm. Carmen’s intricate intertwining of dance and film is entertaining and broke new ground. Another example of the prominence of Saura’s work is his film Blood Wedding (1981), which follows a flamenco reinterpretation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s play of the same name. Both these films are a fundamental must-watch for anyone looking to get stuck into Spanish film history.

El Sur (1983): With its atmospheric cinematography and delicate storytelling, El Sur captures the emotional weight of a divided country and the generational impact of untold stories. Víctor Erice is another director operating in the post-fascist context of the Pacto Del Olvido, the bipartisan pact to forget about Franco. This poetic film is often cited as one of Spain’s greatest cinematic achievements, offering a deeply introspective look at both personal and national histories. It’s a must-watch for those who appreciate nuanced, slow-burn narratives.