Course Completed

1987 Spanish film

23 April 1987 (1987-04-23) (Spain)
5 May 1988 (1988-05-05) (Argentina)

Running time

94 minutesCountrySpainLanguageSpanish

Course Completed (Spanish: Asignatura aprobada) is a 1987 Spanish drama film written, produced and directed by José Luis Garci. The film was an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film at the 60th Academy Awards.

Synopsis

Following the failure of his latest work and the departure of his wife, José Manuel Alcántara decides to leave Madrid for Asturias in pursuit of a quiet life as a radio and press collaborator. However, his past mistakes will resurface, including his rocker son and a former love interest.

Cast

Jesús Puente as José Manuel Alcántara
Victoria Vera as Elena Álvarez
Teresa Gimpera as Lola
Eduardo Hoyo as Edi
Pastor Serrador as Bit part
Ana Rosa Quintana as Ana Rosa Quintana
Manuel Lorenzo
Pablo Hoyos
Santiago Amón
Juan Cueto
Silverio Cañada
José Manuel Fernández
Pedro Lazaga
Andrés Presumido
Fernando P. Pieri as New Year's Eve concert announcer
Joaquín Carballino
Pedro Infanzón
Primitivo Rojas as Radio advertisement announcer

Production

The project stemmed from a conversation with former football player and then-manager of Sporting de Gijón, José Manuel Fernández, and from a sentence he wrote at the Reconquista Hotel in Oviedo before presenting the Premios Princesa de Asturias de las Artes award to Luis García Berlanga: "In my life, there have always been two days left, two completely useless days, yesterday and tomorrow." Garci had stated he wouldn't make any more films until José María Calviño resigned as Director-General of RTVE or relented, and a few days later, he initiated the project.

Filming took place between November 2nd and December 23rd, 1986, in Asturias, particularly in the city of Gijón. The film had a budget of 150 million pesetas. Actress Encarna Paso couldn't participate due to her commitments in the theater; the role was filled by Teresa Gimpera.