Opera Prima (1980)
Fernando Trueba's sparkling debut — a bittersweet Madrid romance between two cousins who have no business falling in love.
Opera Prima - Movie Information
- Original Title: Ópera prima
- Release Year: 1980
- Directed by: Fernando Trueba
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy, Drama
- Runtime: 1h 34m
- Original Language: Spanish
- Spoken Languages: Spanish
- Release Date (Theatrical): April 2, 1980 (Spain)
- Alternative Titles: Cousine, je taime (FR)
- Production Companies: Les Films Molière
- Production Countries: Spain
Opera Prima - Plot
Matias meets Violeta, his cousin one morning in Madrid at the Plaza de Opera. He is twenty-five. She is 18. He's a divorced journalist trying to write a thriller. She studies violin. She's a vegetarian. He loves meat. Many things separate them, but he moves into her apartment.
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Opera Prima - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Fernando Trueba
Main Cast
- Óscar Ladoire
- Paula Molina
- Antonio Resines
- Luis González Regueral
- Kiti Mánver
- Alejandro Serna
- Marisa Paredes
- Tony Valento
- El Gran Wyoming
- David Thomson
Writers
- Fernando Trueba
- Óscar Ladoire
Producers
- Fernando Colomo
- Manolo Matji
Opera Prima - FAQs
What is Opera Prima about?
Opera Prima follows Matías, a 25-year-old divorced journalist in Madrid, who unexpectedly falls for Violeta, his 18-year-old cousin and violin student. Despite their contrasting lifestyles — he loves meat, she's a vegetarian — he moves into her apartment, and a tender, complicated romance unfolds.
Who directed Opera Prima?
Opera Prima was directed by Fernando Trueba. It was his feature debut, and it announced him as a major voice in Spanish cinema. The film helped define the movida madrileña spirit of early 1980s Spain, blending wit, warmth, and a distinctly urban sensibility.
Who are the main actors in Opera Prima?
The film stars Óscar Ladoire as Matías and Paula Molina as Violeta. The supporting cast includes Antonio Resines, Kiti Mánver, Marisa Paredes, and El Gran Wyoming — several of whom would go on to become iconic figures in Spanish cinema.
Is Opera Prima Fernando Trueba's debut film?
Yes, Opera Prima is Fernando Trueba's feature directorial debut, released in 1980. The title itself plays on the phrase 'opera prima,' meaning a first major work. Trueba would later win an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for Belle Époque (1992).
When was Opera Prima released?
Opera Prima was released in Spain on April 2, 1980. It arrived at a culturally electric moment in Spanish history, just after the end of the Franco dictatorship, and became one of the defining films of the movida madrileña cultural movement of that era.
Is Opera Prima connected to the movida madrileña?
Absolutely. Opera Prima is considered one of the key films of the movida madrileña, the vibrant countercultural explosion that swept Madrid in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Its free-spirited tone, urban setting, and youthful energy perfectly capture that moment of social and artistic liberation in Spain.
What genre is Opera Prima?
Opera Prima is a romantic comedy-drama. It blends light, witty humor with genuine emotional warmth, following a mismatched pair navigating an unconventional romance in Madrid. The film has a breezy, improvisational feel that draws comparisons to the French New Wave and Woody Allen's early comedies.
What are some movies similar to Opera Prima?
If you enjoyed Opera Prima, you might love Manhattan (1979), All About My Mother (1999), Broken Embraces (2009), and Gloria (2013). Madrid, 1987 (2012) and Elsa & Fred (2005) also share its intimate, character-driven charm and Spanish or Latin American sensibility.
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