Yo soy la Juani

Previously I'd only seen a couple of Bigas Luna's movies. His "Yo soy la Juani" ("My Name Is Juani" in English) was his second-to-last movie, focusing on a girl and her friend who leave their dismal existence and loser boyfriends in a small town and head to the big city to find their fortune. This is one movie that truly evokes its era, with a pulse-pounding soundtrack and a couple of fast montages. No shortage of sex, either.

I wouldn't call this Bigas's best movie that I've seen; I thought "Jamón jamón" and "Golden Balls" were more profound in dealing with gender issues in Spain. Even so, it's a brisk look at Spain's youth in the aughts and gives one a sense of the culture. So far, every Bigas movie that I've seen has been worth checking out.

PS: Bigas Luna's full name is José Bigas Luna, so he should get listed under Bigas per the Spanish naming system.

Did I just watch the movie too stoned or was I the only one here who noticed the brilliance of Luna's collage narration excitingly wrapped around the "typical plot"? But the stereotypes and the plot cliches that bother you are so real and brought to us intensely, with the fullness of youth energy, and soundtrack that follows it. For example, I really like the crazy transitions from one scene to another (dance floor - guys chasing them on the street, for example), and the pop-techno quality of dream/imagination sequences. It's like...the perfect pop!

I agree with some of the comments here: the narrative structure doesn't develop La Juani's character completely, there is not a character arch, Juani doesn't change that much, the movie ends too soon, the plot line is not great, there are no really big events on Juani's life,... but I think all this light plotting was done on purpose, to grasp Juanis reality better. In one's real life there are not that many events.

Anyway, the acting is amazing, and la Juani is alive, full of truth and emotion... the movie has impressed me a lot.

It's been a long time without finding myself moved by a movie. But with all it's mistakes La Juani has done it. You can tell how some people's life really is, for example, all those young Hispanic girls coming from Southamerica to leave in Spain working in houses taking care of kids. It could have been better in some aspects... but still its good.

'Yo Soy La Juani' presents a pretty common story about two working-class girls from a Spanish provincial town, trying to make their careers in Spain's capital Madrid. The story realistically focuses on the temptations & difficulties a big city has to offer, all newly experienced by these girls.

In the end we also get a moral message: make clear choices in life and persevere by them.

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The visuals truly make this film's strength. Its uncomplicated, direct shooting fully connects with the girl's lifestyle. All their joys, excitements, shocks, disappointments, annoyances, boredom and hardships are smoothly transferred to you. All set in a Spanish adolescent-scene of our times. It allows you to identify completely.

I like the accuracy of this film, the plot is not completely fresh or inventive but the portrayal of life in 2006 as a Spanish youth is. Some films transcend time, sometimes time transcends a film. "Yo Soy La Juani" reminds me of "Valley of the Dolls," I have no idea what it was like to be alive in 1968 but after "Valley of the Dolls" I was able to peer at life then through the voice of the film and the fashion/aesthetics of the set. Though the rawness and honesty in this film are not very shocking in 2010, this film is reminiscent of the 1995 film "Kids." You get to see what young kids do and the issues they are forced to deal with. If you're looking for a life changing experience this movie is not for you, however, if you want a glimpse into what it's like to be in your early twenties in this part of the world, this movie is great.