Liberating and Reclaiming the Body in Films of the Spanish Transition: Amparo Soler Leal’s Nude Rebellions, 1975 to 1979

Abstract

Nudity in cinema during the Spanish transition to democracy became a key device for reflections on identity and the female body from diverse perspectives. This article analyses the discursive potential of Amparo Soler Leal’s nude scenes in films made from 1975 to 1979, as a tool for reclaiming personal freedom and vindicating sociopolitical change. At the age of 42, Soler Leal made the first full frontal nude appearance in Spanish cinema (a milestone often erroneously attributed to María José Cantudo in Blood and Passion) and explored introspective representations and vindications of the body in films such as La adúltera and Let’s Go, Barbara in a context where the body emerged as a vehicle for reflecting on existence and society. This article evaluates her contributions in relation to a prior categorisation of actresses active in the period, highlighting how Soler Leal, as a consolidated actress, served as a precursor and agent of transformation during a time of profound cultural and political change in Spain.