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Writer's pictureElena Alférez

3.-LONG LIFE TO TARANTINO

Updated: Jun 3, 2023

For Tarantino, presenting powerful women makes sense. For him, putting women fighting or leading, it's noticeable that he understands it's something natural. In Quentin, women have always had a great ally; he hasn't needed anyone to tell him in any interview what types of roles women should play. He hasn't needed to because he has already shown us in those roles.


When I started high school, in a class of my favorite subject, technical drawing, the teacher talked to us about a movie that had just been released. He spoke about it for half the class, so enthusiastic that he proposed that we go see it together. Victorino, as he was called, was a great teacher of those who get involved and feel passionate about what they do. Finally, only about eight students signed up for the experience, which turned out to be incredible.

That day, thanks to this teacher, I discovered cinema. I had seen movies before, but never anything like this. It impacted me so much that I returned days later alone to see it again. The movie in question was Pulp Fiction, it blew my mind. The aesthetics, the music, the car cleaning scene, Jules' faith, the heroin overdose after the dance, or Mr. Wolf who every time he appeared gave you a leadership lesson. Everything was amazing.

I clearly remember leaving the cinema and feeling that there was a world completely alien to everything I had experienced before. Thanks to cinema, I could fly to other worlds and realities. From that moment on, which I will always be grateful to Professor Victorino for, I got a membership to the neighborhood video store and started going to the cinema weekly. I'm not exaggerating if I tell you that on more than one occasion, I saw three movies in one afternoon. I would come out of one and head to the box office to see if I could make it to another session.

There was nothing I enjoyed more in life than watching movies, to be honest. After Pulp Fiction, I discovered Reservoir Dogs at the video store, and since then, Quentin Tarantino became one of my favorite people on the planet. He is undoubtedly one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. His ability to direct actors and his attention to detail are legendary in the industry. Before making a movie, Tarantino immerses himself in each actor's resume and knows exactly what he wants each one of them for in his movie. Moreover, one of the things that sets him apart is his ability to bring out the best in each actor and take them to unexpected places, reinventing their careers masterfully.


Everything, from the costumes to every detail, is very thought out in Tarantino's movies. Did you know that he advertises his own products in the movies? He's a marketing genius! The Big Hanuka burger or the Red Apple cigarettes that appear in several of his movies... they don't exist as a brand.

There are many things that make Quentin Tarantino's movies unique, from the intensity of the scenes to the way he uses music to create a unique atmosphere. But perhaps, for me, one of the most interesting aspects of his movies is that he manages to make cool female characters. He is unique with female characters. For Tarantino, presenting powerful women makes sense. For him, putting women fighting or being leaders, it's natural. In Quentin, women have always had a great ally, it hasn't been necessary for anyone to tell him in any interview that women should play certain types of roles. It hasn't been necessary because he has already shown us those roles.

A while back, I heard in an interview that Tarantino commented that when they were about to start filming Pulp Fiction, Uma Thurman told him that she had had several bad experiences in her last movies and that after filming Pulp Fiction, she would probably make one more movie to buy an apartment and retire to do something else. He couldn't believe that she wasn't having fun anymore making movies, as he was having a blast. He felt that it was as important for him to make a good movie as it was for Uma Thurman to have a good experience on the set of hers. He thought it was a shame that she didn't have a good experience and made sure that it did happen.

During filming, Uma suddenly made comments like, "You know Quentin? I think I'm going to forget about being an actress, but if you call me for another movie, I'll come back." One night after filming, they went out for a drink and Quentin told Uma that he was thinking of making another movie that he thought she was perfect for the role of a female assassin in a revenge story. The woman would be the most lethal in the world and would seek to kill everyone who has hurt her. Quentin already had an idea of how he wanted to start the movie, with the woman lying there beaten and bruised, having lost her entire family while people look down on her. That's when Uma had an idea: that she would appear with her entire face covered in blood, the camera would pan out, and there you would realize that she was dressed in a wedding gown. And that's how "The Bride" character in Kill Bill was born. Additionally, Uma's portrayal of Mia Wallace, the gangster's wife, in Pulp Fiction earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

(A few years ago, I was about to quit my acting career because of some bad experiences. Fortunately, I decided to stay and do everything possible to not let anyone make my life bitter. Now, I always carry with me a water gun filled with glitter to spray anyone who tries to bring me down. Yes, that's right! I make them shine!)

What I love the most about Tarantino's movies is that the most important thing is not always what's happening on the surface, but what's underneath. With his innovative use of dialogue, he takes us through seemingly simple conversations that actually explore deep and complex themes. His attention to detail and the way he presents his characters through language and interactions make his films both exciting and nerve-wracking. To me, Tarantino is a romantic who takes us to worlds that are dark and dangerous, but also full of beauty and emotion. His ability to create complex characters and intense situations is a true masterpiece of contemporary cinema.


Personally, I believe that Tarantino would have to live 150 or 200 years in order to have enough time to do everything he wants. Furthermore, it would be a dream come true for me to be able to shoot a movie with him. So I hope he has found the fountain of eternal youth or has a secret plan to clone himself, because I need more of his creativity and brilliance in my life.




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