Director and screenwriter Jaime Chávarri, who modestly defines himself as a "passionate craftsman", was a professional lawyer who enjoyed experimenting with his Super 8 camera. Then one day he realized he had to follow a new professional path, and entered the Escuela Oficial de Cine in Madrid. His first film, Los viajes escolares (1976), dealt with some interesting family issues and included a most personal touch, but it was misunderstood by the critics. Later he worked with producer Elías Querejeta and carried out one of his most memorable works, El desencanto (1976), about the Paneros family, and then with Alfredo Matas he shot the period movie Bearn o la sala de las muñecas (1983), adapted from the novel by Llorenç Vilallonga. Subsequently he managed to adapt Les bicyclettes sont pour l'été (1984) from the theatre play by Fernando Fernán Gómez. With this last film he achieved great success in the box office. Over a three-decade career, this versatile filmmaker has captured many genres, including the musical: Les choses de l'amour (1989) and its sequel Las cosas del querer 2ª parte (1995).