Barcelona Llibres

Friends, relatives and professionals from the world of film came together at the Comanegra publishing house to remember Néstor Almendros, one of the most influential photography directors of the 20th century. Attending the event were Laura Gavaldà, author of the book, and Jaume Peracaula, director of photography and close friend of Almendros, who shared memories and anecdotes about the film director.

A life shaped by exile

Jaume Peracaula remembered the figure of Almendros with nostalgia and admiration, highlighting his passion for film and his strong link with Spanish culture, despite his international trajectory. “He wanted to see Spanish film, which didn’t arrive from the United States. He was always linked to the industry from here, but we didn’t give him the place he deserved”, bemoaned Peracaula. This lack of recognition in Catalonia and Spain contrasts with the devotion to him in France and the US, where his work has been highly appreciated. “Néstor Almendros was a citizen of the world, but his heart was always in Catalonia”, recalled Jaume Peracaula.

The book by Laura Gavaldà looks at this contrast in further detail, exploring how Almendros foundexile a source of artistic inspiration, but also a wound that never fully healed. “How come a cosmopolitan man, renowned and acclaimed the world over, wanted his ashes to return to Calders?”, wondered the author. According to her research, the artist’s wounds in life (exile, repression of his sexual orientation in Cuba and the difficulties in his career, owing to his artistic expression), led him to seek symbolic closure in his homeland.

The legacy of Néstor Almendros and his international recognition

“He was a master of natural light, capable of transforming each shot into a pictorial work”, noted Jaume Peracaula. His relationship with key figures in European cinema and America, such as François Truffaut and Terrence Malick, was fundamental in his career, with both directors entrusting him with essential projects within their film works.

The ceremony resulted in a conversation about the importance of preserving the memory of great artists often eclipsed by the passing of time. “Historical accounts, when they want to come out, look for a person and speak through them”, explained the author, who reveals details about Néstor Almendros that even his closest colleagues were not familiar with.

Despite his international success, Almendros never forgot his Catalan roots. His mother, Maria Cuyás, was a central figure in his life, and her return to Catalonia in 1984, following decades in Cuba, was a turning point in his life. “He fought to bring her here, and when he managed it, a wound was healed”, explained Laura Gavaldà.