The autobiographical documentary in Spain

Abstract

The chapter offers an overview of the autobiographical production in the Spanish documentary cinema, up to 2018. After a brief reflection about the peculiarities of the autobiographical practice in cinema, it starts pointing out to the late beginning of this practice in Spain, around the change of Century. Two thematic trends are dominant in this field: the works linked to spatial settings, related either to the biographical origin or to travel ventures; and the family portraits. From a structural and formal point of view, different approaches are found: from the diary structures of Guerín or Iscar, to the works closer to conventional documentary, or to those made out of recycling materials either public or domestic.