Amantes

A love triangle.

A strong, courageous young girl who works hard as a maid and loves a young soldier. She saves all what she earns to marry him and get started in life. She is innocent with strong morals yet not stupid. She is a typical figure of SPain 50 years ago.

A young soldier. A weak character. Lazy, no clear morals. He is looking for good deals in life. He is influencable and selfish. His relationship with other minor characters (the commanding officer) suggests that he is a coward.

A mature woman who takes part in shady deals as a way of life. She has known many men before. She is lonely and looking for sexual experiences.

The film is fairly sensual. The characters are plausible. The acting is good.

My vote: 8 / 10.

"Amantes" is a beautifully shot film with 3 gorgeous stars in the lead roles.

The central triangle is reminiscent of another fine film, 1951's "A Place in the Sun," which was also based on a true story.

The final scene, with Paco searching for Louisa at the train station, is particuarly striking. It will stick in my memory for a long time.

It's the 1950's Madrid. Paco (Jorge Sanz) is getting out of the army and set to marry his commander's nanny/maid Trini (Maribel Verdú). She is saving herself for marriage and sends him to Luisa (Victoria Abril) to rent a room. He starts a factory job. Luisa seduces him and they have a torrid affair. Trini senses the affair and tries to win him back by sleeping with him.

Victoria Abril is amazing. She is wondrous and does powerful acting. Maribel Verdú is a nice foil to her. Jorge Sanz faces the tougher task of playing the weaker sex and he does a great job. This is a movie of these three terrific actors in compelling performances.

This movie is way of love between three persons. It is cool, sexual, pure. Victoria Abril and Jorge Sanz are great in their roles..besides the music covers perfectly all the drama.

Story of a young cadet who falls for a landlady that 1950's Spain gave him no preparation for. The attempt of his previously innocent fiance to win her man back from Abril's character are both erotic and heartbreaking, and the resolution is a devastator. The best film from Spain I've seen.