| Director: | Montxo Armendáriz |
| Producer: | Elías Querejeta |
| Music: | Ángel Illarramendi |
| Cinematography: | José Luis Alcaine |
| Editing: | Pablo G. del Amo |
| Country: | Spain |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Studio: | Elías Querejeta PC |
Tasio is a 1984 Spanish drama film directed by Montxo Armendáriz in his full-length debut and produced by Elías Querejeta. Garikoitz Mendigutxia, Isidro José Solano, and Patxi Bisquert star as the title character, a charcoal burner and poacher, at different times in his life. The film became a staple of Basque cinema.[1]
The plot follows the life of Tasio, a poacher and charcoal burner moved by a deep conviction of living without being exploited.[2]
Inspired by the real story of Anastasio Ochoa Ruiz, "Tasio" (1916–1989), the screenplay was penned by Montxo Armendáriz alongside Marisa Ibarra.[3] An Elías Querejeta PC production, the film was fully shot in Spanish rather than Basque. This decision stirred criticism among some Basque milieus.[4] Filming locations included the Urbasa range in Navarre.[5] [6]
The film premiered on 19 September 1984 at the 32nd San Sebastián International Film Festival.[7] [8]
The film was enthusiastically received by the public and critics alike.
of El País described Tasio as a "film of haunting beauty".[9]
Nina Darnton of The New York Times pointed out that the film "is undramatic and basically uneventful, but it is never boring".[10]