2004 exceptional year for Spanish-language film

2004 has been a great year for Spanish-language movies, or at least those that have played in the United States.
 
Three previous films that have received critical acclaim have been noted here earlier: María, llena eres de gracia ("Maria Full of Grace"), Diarios de motocicleta ("The Motorcycle Diaries") and La mala educación ("Bad Education"). Most recently, Mar adentro ("The Sea Inside") has opened in major U.S. cities in time to be Spain's entry in the Oscar competition for best foreign-language film.
 
Directed by Alejandro Amenábar, known best internationally for Abre los ojos ("Open Your Eyes"), Mar adentro tells the based-on-fact tale of Spaniard Ramón Sampedro, a Spanish sea merchant and poet who was paralyzed from the waist down in a diving accident and spent 30 years fighting for the right to die. (Sampedro lost his legal fight, which made him well-known in Europe, but died from a complex assisted suicide in 1998.) The leading role is played by Spanish actor Javier Bardem (pictured with Belén Rueda, image copyright Fine Line Features).
 
The generally strong critical praise for the films has translated to box office success — or what is considered a success in the difficult-for-the-U.S. genre of non-English-language films — for two of them: Los diarios de motocicleta has passed the $15 million mark at the U.S. box office for about a third of its worldwide total. And María has grossed $6.5 million, a credible sum, and made the actress playing the leading role, Catalina Sandino Moreno, an Oscar contender.
 
More about Mar adentro can be found on About's Hollywood Movies site.