Documentary commemorates television director Valerio Lazarov

The documentary ‘El irreal Valerio’, directed by Gemma Soriano and Jero Rodríguez, explores the life and career of Valerio Lazarov (1935–2009). The film is part of the ‘Imprescindibles’ series on La 2, marking the 70th anniversary of TVE.

Lazarov, a Romanian-born director, is credited with revolutionizing audiovisual narrative aesthetics in Spain during the 1970s. After working under censorship in Romania, he moved to Spain, where he worked with TVE under the direction of Adolfo Suárez. His style, characterized by visual experimentation and a focus on entertainment, later influenced his work at Telecinco, where he brought elements of the Italian television style to the Spanish market.

The documentary analyzes his impact on the industry, his use of humor and visual spectacle, and how his approach to television evolved alongside the changing media landscape in Spain.