Yesterday Agustí Villaronga passed away at the age of 69, after a week in palliative care. The filmmaker suffered from cancer and leaves behind a very personal filmography, with works such as ‘Pa Negre’, ‘Uncertain Glory’ or ‘El vientro del mar’.
Last goodbye
villaronga was born in Majorca, in 1953. Descendant of a family of showmen and puppeteers, her father instilled in him a love of cinema from a young age. At the age of 14, she tried to enter Roberto Rossellini’s film school but was rejected because he needed a university degree.
He graduated in Art History in Barcelona and His first steps in the world were as an actor theater and costume manager. In 1976, he directed his first short film: ‘Anta mujer’, followed by ‘Al Mayurka’ and ‘Laberint’.
His feature film debut was ‘Behind the glass’, in 1986, written and directed by himself and starring Günter Meisner and Marisa Paredes. This tape would be followed ‘The child of the moon’, ‘99.9’, ‘The sea’ Y ‘Aro Tolbukhin – In the mind of the murderer’among other projects.
stands out ‘Pa Negre’ in 2010, which marks his definitive rise to fame. The film adapts the novel by Emili Teixidor, marked a turning point in her career and made history by becoming the first film in an official language other than Spanish to win the Goya for Best Film.
later they would come ‘The King of Havana’, ‘Rosa’s will’, ‘uncertain glory’, ‘Born King’, ‘The belly of the sea’ Y ‘Lolí Storm’his latest film with Susi Sánchez, Celso Bugallo and Fernando Esteso that will be released posthumously throughout 2023.
The Spanish film industry has wanted to say goodbye to the remembered filmmaker through networks. Rest in peace.
This morning, ens has left Barcelona, the film director, Agustí Villaronga surrounded by his family and friends. His talent, his sensibility, his enormous ability to appreciate everyone he touched and his six films, will remain forever.https: //t.co/gUjHwU7Jqe
— Academy of Catalan Cinema – Gaudí Awards (@academiacinecat) January 22, 2023
sad day Ens deixa massa prest n’Agustí Villaronga, one of the most important film creators of our history who will obtain recognition abroad and abroad.
Ens remains the work, talent i saviesa. Et trobarem to miss, estimate 😘https://t.co/HS0OgzGZ6W
— Francina Armengol (@F_Armengol) January 22, 2023
Ens has left one of the greatest filmmakers of our cinema and of European cinema. Com et trobaré to miss! I estimate you there on you continue. Rest in peace ❤️❤️@academiacinecat pic.twitter.com/q1qIsuK3QJ
— Judith Colell (@ColellJudith) January 22, 2023
📽️ The president of the@academiacinecatJudith Colell, regrets the death of Agustí #Villaronga | @RTVECatalunya
🗣️ The organization of the gala dels #Gaudi treballa per incloure-hi elements that honor the Mallorcan filmmaker | @ColellJudith
➕ Info: https://t.co/DUUAGH5gDt pic.twitter.com/tTRBQZBd9t
— RTVE News (@rtvenoticies) January 22, 2023
Agustí Villaronga is leaving, an anomaly of the system, an explorer of the darkness of the human soul, what we come to call here contemptuously “an Outsider”. His debut feature BEHIND THE GLASS was a blow to the face. He was a longhair in Stray Dogs. Always unique. pic.twitter.com/jXvbddk6Ai
— Enrique Lavigne (@enriquelavigne) January 22, 2023
🖤 We deeply regret the death of Agustí Villaronga, great of our cinema and dear friend of the @sansebastianfes in whose SO he competed on 3 occasions: Aro Tolbukhin…(2002), Pa negre (2010) and El rey de la Habana (2015)
All our love to your family and friends 🙏 pic.twitter.com/OMBlyNhbyK
— Donostia Zinemaldia – San Sebastian Festival (@sansebastianfes) January 22, 2023
Deixes un forat massa gran #AgustiVillaronga
As much to the screens as to life.
Thanks for the dark look. Molts petons to
family and friends. pic.twitter.com/Ig3pBuO2PD— Jose Corbacho (@josecorbacho) January 22, 2023
He has left us a unique being, a formidable person with an irresistible charm and an inner world that he knew how to capture on the big screen. All my love and admiration for Agustí Villaronga, a film director who from ‘Behind the glass’ left a mark on me. Bye teacher. pic.twitter.com/biaQiES7Cv
— Alfonso Albacete (@alfonsoalbacet) January 22, 2023
Bon Viatge Agustí 🤍 Agustí Villaronga dies, director of the unforgettable ‘Pa negre’ https://t.co/r0cgtumLlk
— rossydepalma (@rossydpalma) January 22, 2023
The Spanish Film Academy has shared a video with one of the last appearances of Agustí Villarongain a tribute event to the director where he was accompanied by Marisa Paredes and Susi Sánchez.