Change of Sex

I didn't have a much knowledge of Spanish cinema until I started to watch Almodovar/Aranda movies. Sure you can't put them on same rate. They share only two things - a lot of sex scenes and Victoria Abril. It was interesting to see, how it all started. Here we can see 17-years old Abril playing teenager named Jose Maria with identity problem. Not easiest part to do, but she manages perfectly - as always. After getting himself into lots of trouble, Jose Maria finally becomes a dancer in night club and manages to find his love. Besides Victoria Abril we can see here a real transsexual Bibiana Andersen/Fernandez, who might to drive any man insane only with one look (in positive meaning only). She starrs as herself and Jose Maria's spiritual teacher. She's a quite good actress, really. Too bad Almodovar didn't gave her big enough parts. However her screen relationships with Jose Maria didn't last too long, and this is one part in the script that I hated. As about script in particular - it could be much better. Starts OK, continiues slowly, ending sloppy. The whole movie is generally cute, but not much else. Though, it worth watching because of Abril and Andersen. If you want to spend your time watching something nice and not too depressing - go for it.

In spite of his father who attempts to become him an ordinary boy, teenager José Maria (Victoria Abril) feels a female penchant. He leaves his family and goes Barcelona where he works at a hairdresser's. Shortly after, at the hairdressing José meets a transsexual called Bibi (Bibi Andersen) who performs erotic numbers in a cabaret and with help of his landlady (Rafaela Aparicio) he becomes Maria José. After that, he/she is hired by a mysterious cabaret owner (Lou Castel) and begins performing as an erotic singer and dancer.

First Aranda film co-written by Joaquín Jorda and director Vicente Aranda himself. Without censorship as happened in previous years, Aranda undertakes the movie in complete freedom, no limits, and an instructive purport, dealing with a thorny story with strong sexual background. This uneven movie displays an adequate development, well-paced, and interesting enough. But the music numbers and songs are frankly terrible. Being set at a poor, corny and ridiculous scenary .Highlights the Victoria Abril's acting, then an unknown actress, being first collaboration between Aranda and Abril, to be followed by a lot of successful films. 'Change of sex' is only Spanish movie with cinematography by prestigious Nestor Almendros, though the last week he was replaced by also notorious cameraman José Luis Alcaine.

The motion picture was professionally directed by Vicente Aranda, though it has some failures and lousy musical spectacle. Vicente is an expert on literary adaptations. He directed a series of award-winning movies, firmly establishing him as one of the best Spanish filmmakers. He adapted four novels by writer Juan Marse: " Canciones de amor en club Lolita" , "El amante bilingue", "Si te dicen que caí", y "La muchacha de las bragas de oro". Aranda frequent shoots strong sex scenes , and intense dramatic events. Vicente has been working from the 60s in films as "Fata Morgana", "Las Crueles", "Novia Ensangrentada", "Clara ee el precio", among others. His greatest hits were brooding dramas with plenty of sex, such as "Amantes", "Pasión Turca", "Si te dicen que caí", "Intruso", "Tiempo de silencio" y "Carmen". Aranda was a hard-working filmmaker, writing and shooting until his death.