Year of Enlightment (1986): cast, story & where to watch
1986 · Film · ★ 6.1
Released in 1986, Year of Enlightment is a drama and war film directed by Fernando Trueba, running about 105 minutes.
What it’s about. April, 1940. Manolo, 16 years old, and Jesus, who is just 8, are taken by their older brother Pepe, a lieutenant in the Army, to a sanatorium for children suffering from tuberculosis, situated on the border with Portugal. Once in the sanatorium, Manolo, surrounded by boys all much younger than he is, feels a bit like the cock of the walk since the only other man around is the handyman Emilio who looks after the gardens and does whatever needs to be done about the place. His wife, Rafaela, is the cook. Manolo meets Irene, a falangist who runs the sanatorium, and the school teacher, Miss Transito, a crabby spinster. He has his first sexual experience, albeit as a voyeur, with his nurse Vicenta. When she has to leave, her place is taken by a girl from the village, Maria Jesus, with whom Manolo falls hopelessly in love. A relationship grows up between them which will mark them both for ever.
Who’s in it. Year of Enlightment stars Jorge Sanz as Manolo, Verónica Forqué as Irene, Maribel Verdú as María Jesús and Rafaela Aparicio as Rafaela, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.1/10, Year of Enlightment has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Year of Enlightment page.
If you liked it. Fans of Year of Enlightment tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Year of Enlightment (1986)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Year of Enlightment change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Year of Enlightment worth watching?
- Year of Enlightment holds an audience score of 6.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Year of Enlightment?
- Year of Enlightment stars Jorge Sanz, Verónica Forqué, Maribel Verdú, Rafaela Aparicio and Santiago Ramos.
- When was Year of Enlightment released?
- Year of Enlightment was released in 1986, with a runtime of about 105 minutes.