Ay, Carmela! (1990): cast, story & where to watch

1990 · Film · ★ 6.7

Ay, Carmela! poster

Released in 1990, Ay, Carmela! is a comedy, drama and war film directed by Carlos Saura, running about 102 minutes. “Across the battlefields of Spain, she won the heart of every man.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Paulino and Carmela are husband and wife, troubadours touring the countryside during the Spanish Civil War. They are Republicans, and with their mute assistant, Gustavete, they journey into rebel territory by mistake. They are arrested, fear a firing squad, and receive a reprieve from an Italian Fascist commander who loves the theatre. He arranges a performance for his troops, bargaining with Paulino to stage a burlesque of the republic in exchange for the actors' freedom. Will the fiery and patriotic Carmela consent?

Who’s in it. Ay, Carmela! stars Carmen Maura as Carmela, Andrés Pajares as Paulino, Gabino Diego as Gustavete and José Sancho as Capitán, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, Ay, Carmela! has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $2M at the box office.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Ay, Carmela! page.

If you liked it. Fans of Ay, Carmela! tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.

Frequently asked

Where can I watch Ay, Carmela! (1990)?
Streaming, rental and purchase options for Ay, Carmela! change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
Is Ay, Carmela! worth watching?
Ay, Carmela! holds an audience score of 6.7 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
Who stars in Ay, Carmela!?
Ay, Carmela! stars Carmen Maura, Andrés Pajares, Gabino Diego, José Sancho and Armando De Razza.
When was Ay, Carmela! released?
Ay, Carmela! was released in 1990, with a runtime of about 102 minutes.