Julio Médem

Julio Médem - Life & Films

Julio Médem's Life

From the day he was born in 1958, Julio Médem was constantly playing around with his father's Super8 Camera. Following a privileged upbringing, he went on to study medicine but never lost that constant nagging feeling that his true passion for film stirred in him. During the 1970's and 1980's, Médem got his feet wet directing short films, constantly learning, and writing full-length screeplays that he hoped to one day direct.

1992 saw the premiere of Julio Médem's first full-length film, Vacas, for which critics immediately - and correctly - coined him as the next big thing. Naming him the cinematic heir to Spanish greats like Luis Buñuel, Iván Zulueta, and Víctor Erice, Médem certainly has not disappointed. Boasting admirers around the globe like Steven Spielberg, he's considered one of the most original, important, and promising directors of Spanish cinema.

Julio Médem's Trademarks

Known for his films' highly personal perspective, Julio Médem's genuinely original movies deal with themes like tragedy, destiny, coincidences, love, rivalry, and passion. Strong characters are constantly at the forefront as Médem explores complex psychology and the human subconscious. Another characteristic typical of his films is purposely between reality and fantasy through what has been dubbed a magical-realist perspective. Social and political subjects stemming with his native Basque country also come into play in films like Vacas and his documentary La Pelota Vasca.

Julio Médem's innovative technique reinvents cinematic basics, highlighting the strengths and possibilities of simplicity, light, space, and perspective. Simple dialogues dominate his films, which allow for the characters and their emotions to make their mark in a surprisingly profound way. A true cinematic pioneer who is always pushing the envelope, Médem is also now the first European director to use the high-tech camera that filmed the third Star Wars prequel.

Julio Médem's Films

With Goya Awards and top prizes from the Cannes Film Festival amongst the proof of his achievements, Julio Médem's ground-breaking films include:

  • Vacas
  • La Ardilla Roja
  • Tierra
  • Los amantes del círculo polar
  • Lucía y el sexo
  • La pelota vasca.
  • La piel contra la piedra
  • Caótica Ana