Border-crossing with Borau: At home, abroad

This special issue pays tribute to José Luis Borau’s unique and innovative career in Spanish film spanning more than four decades. It assesses his influence on the larger development of a modern Spanish cinema in national and transnational contexts. Throughout his multifaceted career, Borau was instrumental in shaping a modern cinematic language that helped bring Spanish cinema international acclaim. His unique contributions to Spanish and international cinema include landmark films like the Oscar-nominated black comedy My Dear Señorita (1971), co-scripted with director Jaime de Armiñán; B Must Die (1974); Furtivos (1975); La Sabina (1979); and On the Line (1984). Borau’s collaborations on films with his former students from the National Film School (Iván Zuelueta, Antonio Drove, Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón) would assure his influence on future generations of Spanish audiences. His more recent television series Celia (1991) and Goya award-winning film Leo (2001) confirm Borau’s range as a uniquely gifted film author.