The speech that Carlos Saura left written: “I could not have received greater satisfaction than the Goya de Honor”

The Goya gala has already begun with emotions on the surface, in which one of the most emotional moments of the gala promised to remain: the tribute dedicated to Carlos Saura in what would have been the night of celebration of his long career, taking the stage for collect a well-deserved honorary goya, but which one following his sudden death just a day earlier it became a posthumous tribute.

The Film Academy had chosen Saura as the recipient of the big head “for his extensive and very personal creative contribution to the history of Spanish cinema from the end of the 1950s to today”. During the first musical performance, ‘Cantares’ by Manuel Carrasco, joined by other artists, was accompanied by a photograph of the director. Subsequently, the Goya de Honor was awarded, delivered by Carmen Maura, who shared some anecdotes about the influence he had on her as an actress, stating with emotion that Saura had “marked forever”.

The Aragonese filmmaker already had the prize in hand, given that the Academy presented it to him a few days before the ceremony, but at the gala it was his partner Eulalia Ramón and his children Antonio and Anna Saura who went up to collect the Goya on his behalf. Anna Saura has declared that her father has always defended him “Culture is the most important thing we have, we have to promote it, it doesn’t understand ideologies or colors”. His son Antonio Saura instead defended the impact of the four fundamental women in his father’s personal and professional life: “I want to reclaim the women who were and who made my father who he is”nominating Adela Medrano, Geraldine Chaplin, Mercedes Pérez and finally Eulalia Ramón, “his life partner”.

For his part, Ramón thanked all the people and professionals who took care of Carlos Saura until the end of his days, asking to protect public health. Later, he read the moved note that the Aragonese director had left behind, not before throwing an air kiss: “Carlos, I know you’re watching me”.

The last words of Carlos Saura

The note that Eulalia Ramón read, including the director’s speech, says: “At my 91 years, I could not have received greater satisfaction than having received the Goya de Honor”the note says. “I was very lucky, making more than 50 films”listing his children and grandchildren among the reasons for his good fortune, giving thanks “especially to my favorite actors and actresses, some of whom are no more”. The note ends: “I’ve always said that imagination is faster than the speed of light. Thank you so much for this award”.

At the gala, A video tribute of his filmsbeing some of the best known “Cría cuervos”, “Ay, Carmela!”, “La Caza”, “Ana y los lobos” or “Carmen”.

Carlos Saura’s latest project, the documentary ‘Walls speak’ which reflects on the origin and evolution of art, arrived in the halls of our country on February 3, a week before his death.