Celia (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Celia


caption = Series' opening title
aka = El mundo de Celia
genre = Children's series, Drama
creator = José Luis Borau
writer = Elena Fortún (original author)
José Luis Borau,
Carmen Martín Gaite
director = José Luis Borau
creat_director =
developer =
presenter =
starring = Cristina Cruz Mínguez, Ana Duato, Pedro Díez del Corral
voices =
narrated = Cristina Cruz Mínguez (Celia; first person)
theme_composer =
opentheme = "Hay en madrid una niña"
endtheme =
composer = Carmen Santonja, Gloria Van Aerssen
country = flagicon|Spain Spain
language = Spanish
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 6
list_episodes =
exec_producer = José López Rodero
co_exec =
producer = Ginette Angosse, Alberto Espada
sup_producer =
asst_producer =
cons_producer =
co-producer =
editor = José Salcedo
story_editor =
location = Madrid, Spain
cinematography = Magín Torruella
camera_setup =
runtime = 45 minutes
channel = Televisión Española
picture_format =
audio_format = Stereo
first_run =
first_aired = 1992
last_aired =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website =
prod_website =
imdb_id = 0187627
tv_com_id =

"Celia" is a Spanish children's television series that was originally broadcast in 1992 through Spain's national public-service channel, Televisión Española. The series was based on the classic Spanish children's novels, primarily "Celia, lo que dice" (1929) [cite book |last=Fortún |first=Elena |others= illustrated by Molina Gallent |title=Celia, lo que dice |year=1929 |series=Celia |publisher=Alianza Editorial |location=Madrid |language=Spanish |isbn=84-206-3575-8 |pages=272 ] and "Celia en el colegio" (1932), [cite book |last=Fortún |first=Elena |others= illustrated by Molina Gallent |title=Celia en el colegio |year=1932 |series=Celia |publisher=Alianza Editorial |location=Madrid |language=Spanish |isbn=84-206-3574-X |pages=270 ] by Elena Fortún and told the adventures of a wild seven-year-old girl named Celia Gálvez de Moltanbán [cite book |editor=Perez, Janet and Ihrie, Maureen |title=The Feminist Encyclopedia of Spanish Literature, A-M |accessyear=2008 |accessmonth=May |volume=1 |year=2002 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |location=Westport, CT |language=English |isbn=0-3133-2444-1 |pages=243 | ] . The series, which introduced Cristina Cruz Mínguez in the title role of Celia, was adapted for the screen by award-winning Spanish author and writer Carmen Martín Gaite, and was directed and produced by José Luis Borau. Aside from narrating the stories of Celia, the series also reflected life in Spain during the 1930s, lightly touching the subject of the upcoming civil war, a changing nation, and the social issues and ideas of the time. Though the series was successful when it originally premiered, it was cancelled after six episodes. The sixth and last episode claimed that the series was to be continued ("Continuará"), however, that claim remains untrue almost two decades later.

Production

After the "Celia" books by Elena Fortún had been brought to his attention by Spanish author and screenwriter Carmen Martín Gaite, director and producer José Luis Borau insisted on together creating a television adaptation of Fortún's works; Gaite wasn't convinced easily and was not sure the project would work. When the project was finally green-lit by Televisión Española, a search was begun for the right seven-year-old girl to play the title role of Celia; The then inexperienced Cristina Cruz Mínguez was chosen out of over 2,000 girls that had auditioned for the part [cite video | year2=1992 | url= | title=Buscando a Celia | medium=Documentary |publisher=Divisa Home Video | location=Spain | accessdate= 2008-05-01 |time=05:34 |quote=La elegida entre 2.000] , though some sources indicate an approximate of 3,000 girls. [ cite web |url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/radio/television/BORAU/_JOSe_LUIS_/CINEASTA/ESPAnA/TELEVISIoN_ESPAnOLA_/RTVE/Jose/Luis/Borau/ninos/hay/darles/mejor/elpepirtv/19930103elpepirtv_2/Tes/ |title=José Luis Borau: "A los niños hay que darles lo mejor" |accessmonthday=May 20 |accessyear=2008 |last=Torres |first=Augusto M. |date=1993-01-03 |format=HTML |work=El Pais |language=Spanish |quote=Vimos a más de 3.000 niñas. ] Many of the girls not chosen to play the title role were instead cast as other important and less important girls in the series, such as María Teresa, Celia's friend. A television documentary was produced and entitled "Buscando a Celia" ("Searching for Celia"), which showed the odyssey of finding the right "Celia"; the documentary contained brief interviewes with many different girls and some of their parents as well. When broadcast, the short documentary served as effective publicity for the upcoming series.

Director José Luis Borau stated during the premiere ceremony of the series, that he had had two reasons for his production: One, to pay homage to Elena Fortún, whom he described as one of the most important authors the children of Spain possibly ever had; and two, to give the children of Spain 'the best'. — "The children", he said, "must be given the best. We mustn't take advantage of them, we mustn't trick them, we mustn't give them just anything. Because they deserve the best." [cite video | people=Borau, José Luis | year2=1992 | url= | title=Celia: La premiere | medium=Documentary |publisher=Divisa Home Video | location=Spain | accessdate= 2008-04-25 |time= |quote=] — For her part, award-winning author Carmen Martín Gaite stated her amazement at young actress Cristina Cruz Mínguez's professional behaviour during the filming of the series. — "I remember one scene", she said, "that was filmed very late at night in a circus close to El Escorial, and I didn't hear this girl complain one single time. She didn't ask where her mother was or anything." [cite video | people=Gaite, Carmen Martín | year2=1992 | url= | title=Celia: La premiere | medium=Documentary |publisher=Divisa Home Video | location=Spain | accessdate= 2008-04-25 |time= |quote=] — During the last minutes, the microphone was handed to Mínguez herself and was allowed to say a few words. She took the opportunity to thank Gaite and Borau for their help during the production of "Celia".

Theme song

The series' theme song, composed by the Spanish duet "Vainica Doble", does not have an official name, but it is often referred to as "Celia" or "Hay en Madrid una niña" ("There's in Madrid a girl"); its basic lyrics and music are based on the classic Spanish playground song, "En Cádiz hay una niña" (In Cádiz there is a girl"). Though the song is naturally sung in Spanish, there are brief instances of English and Latin; the English line, "Be quiet, you are a naughty girl!" is presumably sung by the character of Miss Nelly, the English governess. The complete series' opening is a montage of drawings of Celia by one of the original illustrators of the novels, Molina Gallent.

Cast

*Cristina Cruz Mínguez - Celia Gálvez
*Ana Duato - María Gálvez (Mamá)
*Pedro Díez del Corral - Pablo Gálvez (Papá)
*Sian Thomas - Miss Nelly
*Miguel Magaña - Cuchifritín
*Carmen Rossi - Doña Petra
*Concha Leza - Cook
*Aurora Redondo - Doña Benita
*Tito Valverde - Tío Rodrigo
*Diana Salcedo - Basílides
*Silvia Casanova - Rafaela
*Tito Augusto - Lamparón
*María Isbert - Madre Superiora
*Silvia Munt - Madre Corazón
*Paula Soldevila - Sister
*Nathalie Seseña - Sister
*Ángel de Andrés - Don Restituto
*Mario Maranzana - Ringmaster

Plot

Celia is a seven-year-old girl living with her family in her home located in a street, la Calle Serrano, in Madrid, Spain. Celia has a way of questioning everything around her, in a way of childish innocence, as well as ingenuity; she wonders about the identity of the Three Wise Men, for instance, and the strange ideas and thoughts that adults tend to say. Celia's mother and father have little time to spend with their daughter; she is away visiting friends or out shopping and often comes home very late at night, living Celia in charge of Miss Nelly, the English governess, while he is busy attending to his work in his office. Celia is not allowed to play much with her little brother "Baby", whom she names "Cuchifritín", because he is too small and fragile, but spends time with other playmates such as Solita, the porter's daughter and María Teresa, another girl her age. While under the care of Miss Nelly, whom Celia cannot stand, or Juana, the maid, Celia often finds ways to get into all sorts of scrapes, though mostly unintentionally. Eventually, feeling insulted and humiliated, Miss Nelly returns to England, and Celia's mother calls upon an elderly woman, Doña Benita, to look after the girl. It turns out however, that Doña Benita's imagination is as wild and innocent as Celia's and the two become very close. Celia is entralled by Doña Benita's fantastic stories about fairies and demons, and all sorts of odd beliefs and superstitions. Following an eventful summer at the beach and the Spanish countryside, Celia's mother, with some help from her sister-in-law Julia, convinces her husband to have the girl sent off to a convent, where they hope she'll learn discipline and good behaviour. Once at the school with the nuns, Celia continues to make mischief and form many chaotic events at the convent, often with the help of other girls.

Characters

Gálvez Family

*Celia Gálvez (played by Cristina Cruz Mínguez): The protagonist, Celia is a seven-year-old girl with a wild imagination. She has an ingenious way of questioning the things adults say and do, expresses her mind freely and lives in a fairy tale world of her own. Celia often gets into escrapes, some mild and some more serious, but seldom with bad intentions.

*Pablo Gálvez (played by Pedro Díez del Corral): Celia's father, he works hard to support his family. At one point he comes to realize that he is tired of who he is and the work he does. He loves Celia dearly and is very unhappy when he must send her away with the nuns. Wanting to improve their family's situation, he and his wife leave for another country hoping to find work.

*María Gálvez (played by Ana Duato): Celia's mother, she loves her husband and children dearly, but spends much time outside their home. She is a very social woman and frequently goes out shopping and to have tea with her friends. When Celia passes from being a handful to being a threat to her little brother's safety, María has no option but to take her sister-in-law Julia's advice and send her daughter with the nuns.

*"Cuchifritín" Gálvez (played by Miguel Magaña): Celia's baby brother, he is named "Cuchifritín" by Doña Benita; Celia likes the name and uses it from that day on. Cuchifritín is often Celia's only playmate, and her sometimes rough play doesn't particularly please him. Celia accidentally makes Cuchifritín very ill on one occasion, which is when Celia's parents decide to send her away.

*Tía Julia: Tía Julia is Celia's aunt and Pablo's sister. She often tries to convince her brother and sister-in-law that the best way to deal with Celia would be to send her to a convent. When she sees that Doña Benita does not help the situation, she tries her suggestion once again and is finally successful at convincing Pablo.

Household workers

*Doña Benita (played by Aurora Redondo): Doña Benita is an elderly woman who arrives in Madrid in answer to a request made by Celia's mother. She is asked to replace Miss Nelly and look after the girl, but it turns out that Doña Benita's imagination is as wild as Celia's. Doña Benita joins Celia in many of her escapes and always defends her.

*Miss Nelly (played by Sian Thomas): She is Celia's English governess and has come to Spain to look after Celia and teach her the English language. She is unsuccessful, however, though she manages to teach the girl some English. Feeling insulted and humiliated, one day Miss Nelly resigns and announces that she returns to England. She is then replaced by Doña Benita.

*Juana: Juana is the household maid. She has a short temper and little patience with the girl and agrees that she needs to be disciplined. She often says that if she had her way, she'd whack Celia until she learned to behave like she should. Though she often quarrels with the girl, she, too loves her and worries whenever she is outside the home and can't be found.

*Doña Petra (played by Carmen Rossi): A kind servant, Doña Petra is in charge of the sewing at home. She helps Celia prepare her costume for Carnival and is always good to the girl.

*The Cook (played by Concha Leza): Just like Doña Petra, the cook is also very kind to Celia. When she and Doña Benita arrive home with Picarín, the donkey, she prepares worm milk for it to drink. Like most of the less educated people, the cook is highly superstitious.

Media information

Since its original television debut in 1992, "Celia" remains a popular series and has been aired on Televisión Española numerous times. Often broadcast in black and white in order to give the series a more nostalgic value fit of the story's time setting of the 1930s, the series would be shown one episode a day during a period of six days, usually beginning on a Monday.

In 1993, the distributor Editorial América Ibérica released the series for the first time on home video. The six different episodes were sold individually in a colorful collection entitled "El mundo de Celia" ("The World of Celia"), and each was packed together with a reprint of Elena Fortún's first six "Celia" novels: "Celia, lo que dice" (1929) was included with the first episode of the series, "Soy Celia", "Celia en el colegio" (1932) with the second, "Doña Benita", "Celia novelista" (1934) with "El verano", "Celia en el mundo" (1934) with "En el colegio", "Celia y sus amigos" (1935) with "Ni santa, ni mártir" and "Celia madrecita" (1939) with "¡Hasta la vista!"; Editorial América Ibérica did not produce reprints of the remaining "Celia" novels. These VHS and book sets would be sold primarily at "Kioscos" and local bookstores as opposed to large video stores.

In 2001, distributor Divisa Home Video released the series on Region 2 DVD format as part of their extensive "Series clásicas" ("Classic series") collection that offered a wide variety of classic Spanish television series, mostly for older audiences. All six episodes were released together in one single 3-disc pack, complete with two audio options, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 or Stereo, subtitles in English, German, French, Italian and Portuguese, and extra features including the "Buscando a Celia" 1992 featurette. A 2-disc re-release of the pack (three episodes per disc) also featured the "Celia: La premiere" documentary not included in the first release. Divisa Home Video also released this collection on VHS, but was discontinued along with the entire format shortly afterwards.

Reception

In 1993, "Celia" was awarded the TP de Oro for Best Dramatic National Series in Spain. The TP de Oro is considered one of the most prestigious, if not the most prestigious, awards given to television programs and actors in the country.

Episode listing

References

External links

*imdb_title|id=0187627|title=Celia