Biography
Spanish director Victor Erice made two of his country's most important and critically lauded films, El Espiritu de la Colmena (
The Spirit of the Beehive) (1973) and
Sur (
The South) (1983). Erice had studied political science before entering the Instituto de Investigaciones y Experiencias Cinematográficas in 1960. Shortly after graduation in 1963, he worked as a film critic and worked on the script for
Antonio Eceiza's El Proximo Otoño (Next Autumn) (1963). He also collaborated on
Miguel Picazo's Oscuros Sueños de Agosto (Dark Dreams of August) (1967). Influential producer Elías Querejeta provided Erice his first opportunity to direct by assigning him a chance to helm one of three episodes in
Los Desafios (The Challenges) (1969). Following his success with
El Sur, Erice became a prolific director of television commercials and worked uncredited on numerous other feature films. In 1992, Erice reemerged on the film scene with his dream-like documentary of painter Antonio Lopez's quest for perfection,
El Sol del Membrillo (The Quince Tree Sun or The Dream of Light). ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide