"Penélope Cruz's breakthrough film, 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona', scored prestigious awards such as the Oscar, Bafta, and Goya, securing her as a leading figure in Hollywood and Spanish cinema."
In the heart of 2008, Woody Allen's film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" made a significant impact on the global cinema scene. The film, which premiered after screening at the Sebastian Film Festival, drew over a million spectators in Spain alone.
Directed by the acclaimed Woody Allen, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" featured an ensemble cast, including Penélope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Dunn, and Chris Messina.
The film's success continued to soar as it took home the Golden Globe for Best Picture in the comedy or musical category. The highlight of the film's journey, however, was Penélope Cruz's Oscar win for Best Supporting Actress.
Cruz's win was a historic moment, making her the first award of the night. The prestigious award was presented to her by an illustrious group of five Oscar winners: Angelica Houston, Whoopi Goldberg, Tilda Swinton, Goldie Hawn, and Eva Marie Saint.
During the ceremony, Cruz was seated with her family, remaining calm when she heard her name announced as the winner. This was her second Oscar nomination, a testament to her talent and dedication to her craft.
The film's soundtrack, a blend of Spanish and English tunes, featured Giulia and Los Tellarini's theme Barcelona, Paco de Lucía's Entre dos aguas, Juan Serrano's performances from his album Sabor Flamenco, Isaac Albéniz's Asturias and Granada, and two tracks by Biel Ballester.
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" was shot between July and September 2007 in New York, Oviedo, and Barcelona. Interestingly, Cruz and Patricia Clarkson shot "Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona" and "Elegy" almost at the same time.
The film's success was not limited to Spain or the United States. It received a warm welcome in France, one of the countries that enjoys Allen's cinema the most. Cruz's performance was also celebrated in the United States and Europe, earning her numerous awards, including the Bafta and the Goya.
In the same year, she was nominated alongside Viola Davis, Amy Adams, Maria Tomei, and Taraji P. Henson for Oscars. Despite the fierce competition, Cruz's exceptional performance in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" stood out, making her the night's first winner.
To commemorate the 15th anniversary of this historic win, the website Play celebrates Cruz with a collection featuring films and interviews. Among the available titles are Sin noticias de Dios, Loving Pablo, Ma ma, and El amor perjudica seriamente la salud.
Allen's film not only showcased Cruz's talent but also his ability to win over his fellow Americans with a film set in Barcelona.
