How Spanish Cinema Hit the Big Time

A man visits the empty Le Rif cinema in the western city of Casablanca, Morocco, Jan. 24, 2022. (AFP Photo)

With a Golden Bear for Spanish director Carla Simon and four compatriots nominated for Oscars, including superstars Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, Spanish cinema has now begun to captivate a global audience.

When Bardem and Cruz, who have been married for over a decade, were both tapped for Oscars, the 53-year-old actor could hardly contain his excitement.