Tasio

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.

Plot
The plot follows the life of Tasio, a poacher and charcoal burner moved by a deep conviction of living without being exploited.

Production
Inspired by the real story of Anastasio Ochoa Ruiz, "Tasio" (1916–1989), the screenplay was penned by Montxo Armendáriz alongside Marisa Ibarra. An Elías Querejeta PC production, the film was fully shot in Spanish rather than Basque. This decision stirred criticism among some Basque milieus. Filming locations included the Urbasa range in Navarre.

Release
The film premiered on 19 September 1984 at the 32nd San Sebastián International Film Festival.

Reception
The film was enthusiastically received by the public and critics alike.

Diego Galán of El País described Tasio as a "film of haunting beauty".

Nina Darnton of The New York Times pointed out that the film "is undramatic and basically uneventful, but it is never boring".