Carmen is a 2003 film about the classical romance of the same name by Prosper Mérimée. Director Vicente Aranda bases the plot on Mérimée's original novella from 1847 (i.e. prior to Bizet's opera from 1875), changing some details about the love story between Carmen (Paz Vega) and José (Leonardo Sbaraglia). Further adaptations include the introduction of author Mérimée (Jay Benedict) into the plot, who is portrayed as a French author who finds the "real" Carmen in early 19th century Spain, and changing José's nationality from French to Basque.