The second part of Saura’s Flamenco Trilogy once again sees the director collaborating with the great Antonio Gades. Here, they bring Prosper Mérimée’s story of Carmen and Bizet’s operatic adaptation to the screen in a striking flamenco style. As a company rehearses a production of Carmen, their own personal lives begin to echo that of the fictional characters they are creating for the stage. A self-reflexive, cinematic tour de force, the film also boasts the presence of a number of flamenco greats including choreographer María Pagés, guitarist Paco de Lucía and dancer Cristina Hoyos.