Tourism and auteur cinema. Almodovar as a promoter of the image of Spain in France

Introduction: The aim of this study is to analyze how Pedro Almodovar's cinema influences the perceived image of Spain by French viewers, considering the content of his films, the diversity of audiences, and the level of engagement of the spectators. Methodology: Twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with French viewers who have a high knowledge of Almodovar's cinema. The questions emerged from studies on narrative persuasion, audiovisual fiction tourism induced, and the image of tourist destinations. Results: Despite all the testimonies having extensive knowledge of Almodovar's cinema, there are differences among types of viewers based on their familiarity with Spain, the level of consumption, and engagement. Discussion: The results are related to previous research findings on the effects of audiovisual fiction on destination images. A high degree of correspondence can be observed between the image projected by the films and the one perceived by the viewers, highlighting the importance of familiarity with the country, the relative influence of stereotypes projected in his cinema, and the inability to turn specific locations into icons. Conclusions: The study demonstrates an undeniable link between representation, audience type, reception, and the effect on the image. The high degree of coincidence between the image projected by Almodovar's cinema and the one perceived by the viewers is related to their engagement with the films and their familiarity with Spain.