La Chana

In the 1960s and 1970s, Antonia Santiago Amador, alias "La Chana," was a hugely popular flamenco dancer – until she suddenly vanished from the public eye, at the height of her career. After she played a role in the Peter Sellers film The Bobo (1967) the star invited her to Hollywood, but it wasn't to be. In her baroque boudoir in Barcelona, the frail and elderly dancer now reveals the reason her career came to such an abrupt end. Meanwhile, she prepares to give a performance together with friends and family – these days she has to dance sitting down, but her footwork is still impressive. The camera follows her as she makes paella with her daughter or teaches young dancers, demonstrating the complexity of the fiery flamenco footwork. Supported by abundant footage of spectacular dance and outstanding flamenco music, this intimate portrait is an ode to the elderly gypsy artist, for whom swirling skirts might be a thing of the past, but whose passion burns as strongly as ever. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)