Spanish film director born in Madrid. Graduated in Law, he never practiced as a lawyer. He later studied for two years at the Escuela Oficial de Cinematografía and worked as a film critic for the magazine Film Ideal while making several short films in super-8. His first solo feature film was Los viajes escolares (1974). In 1976 he released El desencanto, a biographical documentary about the poet Leopoldo Panero. The film was awarded the Best Film Award by the Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos. A un dios desconocido (1977) starred Héctor Alterio and its script was written by Elías Querejeta. It was followed by Dedicatoria (1980) and Bearn o la sala de las muñecas (1983), starring Fernando Rey, Imanol Arias and Ángela Molina. One of his most recognized works is Las bicicletas son para el verano (1984), based on a play by Fernando Fernán Gómez. The film, starring Agustín González, Victoria Abril, Marisa Paredes and Gabino Diego, is set during the Spanish Civil War. El río de oro (1986) stars Ángela Molina. It is followed by Las cosas del querer (1989), in whose script Fernando Colomo participated. Tierno verano de lujurias y azoteas (1992) is a comedy starring Gabino Diego, Marisa Paredes and Imanol Arias. In 1994 he directed the sequel to Las cosas del querer with the same actors.

A year later he released Gran Slalom (1996), with a script by Rafael Azcona. The film stars Juanjo Puigcorbé and Pilar Bardem, among others. The following year he directed a Spanish-Argentine co-production entitled Sus ojos se cerraron y el mundo sigue andando (1997). In 2002 he directed Besos para todos, starring Emma Suárez and Eloy Azorín and in 2004 El año del diluvio, an adaptation of the novel by Eduardo Mendoza. His latest feature film was Camarón (2005), for which he co-wrote the script with Álvaro del Amo. The film is based on the biography of the flamenco singer José Monje Cruz, Camarón de la Isla, who is given life by the actor Óscar Jaenada in a splendid characterization. The film won three Goya awards for Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling and Best Leading Actor.