Maravillas (1981): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1981, Maravillas is a drama film directed by Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón, running about 95 minutes.

What it’s about. A young Catholic girl takes viewers through a changing Spanish political and social landscape as she develops from her confirmation day to adulthood. Her first experience with the real Spain comes when her Jewish godfathers cannot come to her confirmation. One of the godfathers, using a ring, poses an early challenge to her innocence that puts her in danger. He later returns, indirectly introducing her to a new boyfriend. If he is one of the symbols for Jewish life under Franco, or for a Judeo-Christian interaction, that interaction is complex. The young woman encounters different lovers as she grows into adulthood, but at the same time she is burdened with financially supporting her father and his own rather decadent lifestyle. Again, this difference in generations could be understood as a difference between the "new" and "old" Spain; it is up to the viewers to interpret the story elements as they decide.

Who’s in it. Maravillas stars Fernando Fernán Gómez as Fernando, Cristina Marcos as Maravillas, Enrique San Francisco as Membrillo and José Luis Fernández 'Pirri' as Pirri, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.7/10, Maravillas has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $202K at the box office.

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

If you liked it. Fans of Maravillas tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.