Outlandish and ironical film about a false preacher who sees appearances and becomes himself a fake prophet . Two Spanish beggars , humble Salva (Jordi Molla) and roguish Angel (Juan Carlos Vellido) are drifting across the streets of a big city that suffers a rampant poverty . Soon find themselves an amazing occasion in over their heads when Salva falls under the influence of fancies that he has had a religious vision . Along the way , Salva joins TV anchorman and signs a contract in a popular reality television show with high shares that lets the audience decide between life or death for suspected felons . As Salva transforms himself into a prophet-like figure called ¨Salvador¨ or saviour who is an instant hit smash in the public . Through this raucous and shock TV program , titled ¨Mano Dura or Hard Hand¨ , Salva turns a phony evangelist with the gift of gab who along with Bigardo (Daniel Jimenez Cacho) exploit the faithful with his fire-and-brimstone sermons . The merciless news media force-feeds these astonishing images of relentless faith and religious obsession to the Spanish people . At the television program takes place a sensational show that spreads on people and perhaps the entire planet . As the ¨Saviour¨ become a mass phenomenon , as his words aroused the passions of the crowd and he often uses popular slogans : ¨God is on air¨ or ¨No Somos Nadie¨.
This ironic as well as weird film regarding two opportunistic pan-handlers who attempt to escape poverty and join an ambitious TV presenter , as they attempt to make a fortune out of the naive audience . The story is set in a nearly future world , in which people appear to suffer from violence and spiritual desperation . This is a hilarious hallucinogenic comedy/drama , with plenty of parody , disturbing images , surrealist events , rapid shots , spoof and gross-out but also with some brief moments being bold and fun . The bizarre ironies here are funny , sad and sometimes shocking . This is a comical and sometimes embarrassing account of a series of "sightings" from the personal, social , cultural , religious and economic perspective . This interesting film packs colorful as well as dark images , strange situations , swift frames , twists and turns ; but it also contains some touches of humor , irony and social critique against ¨Reality Shows¨. The twisted story is carried out in similar style to other films realized by offbeat director Alex De La Iglesia . The picture deals with religious appearances and fake prophets , a sub-genre about ¨new messiahs¨ or ¨false preachers¨ , theme usual in Spanish cinema such as the vintage ¨El Jueves Milagro¨ by Luis Garcia Berlanga , and recently ¨Visionarios¨(2001) by Manuel Gutiérrez Aragon , ¨Año Mariano¨ by Karra Elejalde and Fernando Guillen Cuervo and ¨Red lights¨ by Rodrigo Cortes . And not forget the American classics as ¨Elmer Gantry¨ by Richard Brooks and ¨The rainmaker¨ by Joseph Anthony . Spain , which was vulnerable to these types of worshipping , has seen its share of the offbeat , which is what the filmmaker felt is an assault on the viewing public and wanted to set his flick from the point of view of the two rogues and the people that are . The characters are all odd , grotesque and weird and the film races on at incredible speed . Anti-religious humor turns out to be sometimes cheesy and gross-out with numerous naughty and picaresque situations such as ridiculous jokes , bad taste , blasphemy and adult scenes . However , it also provides uneven comedy , eccentric humor , profanity and grossed issues . It's possible that Christians or other religious people pick this up because the yarn has a ¨Jesús Christ¨-alike in it, but that shows what the writers and filmmakers were attempting to do is to teach a possibility to people who maybe never saw the world like this, especially in the modern world where Christianity has been more and more accepted and sometimes forgotten .
Vibrant acting by Jordi Molla as a pan-handler who stumbles upon an opportunity to redeem himself . Jordi gives one of his most memorable acting in this release . The ensemble cast has some nice moments in the film such as Daniel Jimenez Cacho as mean TV commentator , Candela Peña as his wife , Florinda Chico as mom , Álex Angulo , Eduardo Antuña , Silvia Casanova , and Enrique Villén as a stuttering barman . Including a spotless pictorial cinematography by Nestor Calvo (Atomica , Lobo , Nos Miran , Lobos De Washington , The ugliest woman in the world , Años Barbaros , Miguel and William) , showing splendidly a future though nearby Spanish world . This evocative photography was well made by a good expert and deemed to be one of the best Spanish cameramen . As the cinematography is dark as well as brilliant . Adequate and atmospheric musical score by Roque Baños (Cell 211 , Fragiles, Machinist, Sexy beast, 800 bullets) , adding opera songs . Jordi Molla stars , produces , directs this "God Is on Air" and he carries out an acceptable but strange film . Rating : 5.5 , passable . The flick will appeal to Jordi Molla fans .
