Clemente de la Cerda (Chichiriviche, 13 October 1935 - Caracas, 13 December 1984) was a film director in Venezuela. He directed one of the highest grossing Venezuelan films, Soy un delincuente (I am a criminal), in 1976.[1] His movies were notable for their depiction of social problems.[2]
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Clemente de la Cerda was born in Chichiriviche, Falcón State, in 1935. Although he had no formal education, he studied at the School of Fine Arts in Caracas.[1] Between 1962 and 1963 he attended the Venezuelan Institute of Film Studies, then directed by the actor Luis Salazar. Later, he studied theater with Humberto Orsini in the Central University of Venezuela for eight months. At the same time he began work with Televisa (later Channel 4) as an assistant cameraman, worked his way up to directing music programs and soap operas. After VTR (Video Tape Recorder) technology appeared, he decided to leave TV movies, and started working in news and advertising, first as a cameraman and then as director.[2]
He began his career as a film director with Isla de sal (Salt Island) and El rostro oculto (the missing face), both released in 1964. His Soy un delincuente (I am a criminal) in 1976 earned more at the box office than Jaws by Steven Spielberg.[1] This movie challenged Venezuelan cinematic traditions by questioning the material conditions and psychological assumptions of society. It established him as a leading director.[3] His 1979 movie The crime of the criminal was based on a lawyer's murder at the hands of the Carmona CAT vigilante group led by former head of the PTJ, Manuel Molina Gasperi. The 1979 film Compañero de viaje (Traveling Companion) was based on the book by Orlando Araujo.[1] He also directed the 1980 telenovela Elizabeth.
He was attacked by intellectuals because he failed to follow the rules, and because his films were always based on the lives of ordinary people.[1] In 1985, a year after his death, the National Council published a book titled Clemente de la Cerda, texts, films, illustrations, which made an exhaustive study of Cerda's cinematographic work.[2]
| Year | Movie |
|---|---|
| 1964 | Isla de sal |
| 1964 | El rostro oculto |
| 1971 | Sin fin (Endless) |
| 1976 | Soy un delincuente |
| 1977 | Reincidente (Repeat Offender) |
| 1979 | El crimen del penalista (The crime of the criminal) |
| 1979 | Compañero de viaje (Traveling Companion) |
| 1983 | Agua que no has de beber (Water not for drinking) (Comedy) |
| 1984 | Retén de Catia |