Muere Robert Altman

Robert Altman ha fallecido hoy en Los Ángeles a los 81 años de edad. Este director fue considerado uno de los grandes maestros del cine independiente de los años 70, la generación que cambió el panorama hollywoodiense. Altman experimentó con todos los géneros y ha dejado algunas de las mejores crónicas satíricas de su país, Estados Unidos, como "Nashville", de 1975, o "Un matrimonio", de 1978. Su última cinta, A prairie home companion, presenatada en el último festival de Cannes, es una suave y nostálgica evocación de la América profunda.

Altman lega a la historia del cine 86 películas, entre las que destacan "M.A.S.H", "Nashville", "El juego de Hollywood", "Vidas cruzadas" o "Gosford Park". Ha estado nominado cinco veces al Oscar como mejor director por las películas mencionadas, aunque no logró la estatuilla en ninguna de ellas. Tuvo que esperar a este año para recibir su primer Oscar. En este caso, era el honorífico que la Academia de Hollywood le brindó.

Aquí reproducimos su discurso al recibir este galardón. Fue una de sus últimas apariciones públicas. Recibiendo un Oscar que cerraba su gran carrera como director.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. I've got a lot to say, and they've got a clock on me. I want to thank everybody for this. The Academy. I was really honored and moved to accept this award. When the news first came to me about it, I was caught kind of off guard. I always thought this type of award meant that it was over. And then it dawned on me, that I was busy in rehearsals on a play, that I'm doing in London right now. It opened last night, Arthur Miller's last play "Resurrection Blues." I was doing an interview for my new film, that I just finished "Prairie Home Companion" which will come out in the summer. And I realized that it's not over. Of course, I was happy and thrilled and thrilled to accept this award. And I look at it as a nod to all of my films, because to me, I've just made one long film. And I know some of you have liked some of the sections, and others, you -- any way, it's all right. And I want to thank all of the people that have worked on all of my pictures so hard. And the brilliant actors, the amazing crews. I can't name them all, so I'm going to name a doctor that is taking care of me, Jody Kaplan. So she represents everybody. And who have supported me and made it possible. I've always said that making a film is like making a sand castle at the beach. You invite your friends and you get them down there, and you say you build this beautiful structure, several of you. Then you sit back and watch the tide come in. Have a drink, watch the tide come in, and the ocean just takes it away. And that sand castle remains in your mind. Now I've built about 40 of them, and I never tire of it. No other filmmaker has gotten a better shake than I have. I'm very fortunate in my career. I've never had to direct a film I didn't choose or develop. I love filmmaking. It has given me an entree to the world, and the human condition and for that I'm forever grateful. Finally I'd like to thank my family. You're all up there, all of them, almost. For their love and support. And through the years. And most importantly, i want to thank and applaud my wife, Kathryn Reed Altman, without whom I wouldn't be here today. I love you Trixie. Thank you. Oh -- one more thing. I'm here, i think, under kind of false pretenses. And I think I have to get -- become straight with you. Ten years ago, 11 years ago, I had a heart transplant. A total heart transplant. I got the heart of I think a young woman who is about in her late 30's. And so by that kind of calculation, you may be giving me this award, too early. Because I think I've got about 40 years left on it. And I intend to use it. Thank you very much. Thank you."

ROBERT ALTMAN, 5 de marzo de 2006. Los Ángeles.