Excerpts from what was supposed to be Agustí Villaronga’s film debut, now a colourful, multifarious short.
Al-Mayurka was conceived as Villaronga’s feature debut but due to production circumstances it became just a short – hence (Fragments). However, anyone not aware of this background wouldn’t notice. Despite its many different tones, the work is well-rounded and finely calibrated between allegory and realist narrative. In that respect, Al-Mayurka (Fragments) harks back to Anta mujer but also foreshadows El mar and Pa negre with their tales of innocence corrupted. –Rotterdam
He has been active as a director, screenwriter and actor since 1976. His oeuvre consists of four short films, five fiction films, two television films, two documentaries and two episodes for Spanish television series. Villaronga’s impressive full-length film debut Tras el cristal (1987) is still seen as a controversial work. He has also made strong films with a surreal edge, such as El nino de la luna (with a soundtrack by Dead Can Dance and a lead role for the band’s singer Lisa Gerrard, 1989), El mar (2000) and Aro Tolbukhin. En la mente del asesino (2002), all of which are bringing increasing international recognition for Villaronga’s work. His new film Pa negre (2010) had its premiere in competition at the San Sebastian film festival, and won a Silver Shell for actress Nora Navas. –Rotterdam
