El pico

"El Pico" was the most successful of a swathe of films about drug addiction and juvenile delinquency that came out of Spain in the late '70s and early '80s. Despite its success it was also one of the last movies Eloy de la Iglesia made, as he succumbed to the same addiction as his characters.

"El Pico" (translated as "The Needle") centres around a young man in the Basque country in Bilbao, northern Spain. He is the son of a policeman, apparently a militaristic arm of the fascist government. His mother is dying of cancer.

The young man, named Paco, has a best friend, named Urko, whose father is a left wing politician who is agitating for Basque autonomy. Both boys are heroin addicts who start to deal drugs to pay for their habit. They visit an Argentine prostitute, and their dealer has a pregnant wife whose baby is soon born with heroin withdrawal. This leads to an extraordinary scene where the mother places the baby's pacifier in its mouth covered with heroin to stop it from crying.

The boys' addiction gets worse, and their lives predictably spiral out of control, leading to violence and death.

The movie is markedly less homoerotic than de la Iglesia's previous works, excepting some unnecessary and exploitative full frontal nudity. The last two de la Iglesia films I watched, "Cannibal Man" and "No One Heard the Scream", both featured eroticism only between the male lead and a superfluous handsome male character who opened the door to homosexuality, but de la Iglesia didn't take us through. Well, "El Pico" has an openly gay character - unlike those two movies - but also unlike them, this character isn't attractive at all; he resembles an anemic Marty Feldman with his huge eyes and angular face. He is, however, about the only compassionate figure in the movie.

It is hard to avoid comparisons with that German druggie movie, "Christiane F.", though the creator of the notorious video nasty "Cannibal Man" wasn't able to pull off a single scene which is anywhere near as harrowing as that film. For all its grit, it also doesn't feel as realistic; some of the twists and turns seem forced, and the ending still showcases de la Iglesia's habit of a final, unlikely development, here apparently trying to conflate drug use with being a policeman (?).

Lastly, I think the actors who play the two boys should have been switched. Urko, actually a minor character, is portrayed by a performer with more charisma and screen presence than the scruffy and sullen Paco. He also evinces far more sympathy from the audience; the camera loves him, and seeing him in Paco's role could have made "El Pico" a minor classic in league with "Christiane F.".

I recently watched the Spanish film 🇪🇸 El Pico (1983) on Shudder. The storyline follows two best friends, the son of a politician and the son of a commander, as they delve into the world of drugs, specifically heroin, which becomes both their greatest high and a new source of business. Their descent into the heroin business leads their lives into a downward spiral.

Directed by Eloy de la Iglesia (Navajeros), the film stars José Luis Manzano (Navajeros), José Manuel Cervino (The Last Circus), Enrique San Francisco (Save the Zombies), and Carme Contreras (REC 3).

Set in Bilbao, a city my daughter and I adore, El Pico is an intriguing character-driven piece reminiscent of "Requiem for a Dream" in some aspects. The plot unfolds with smart twists and turns, some leading to better outcomes while others exacerbate the characters' situations. The acting is excellent, and the portrayal of addiction and rehab is compellingly realistic. The needle scenes are particularly intense and authentic. Additionally, there is unexpected nudity that adds to the film's shock value. The conclusion is marked by multiple twists and turns, leaving a sense of sadness and shock.

In conclusion, El Pico is a well-crafted depiction of drug addiction with clever narrative twists that make it worth watching. I would give it a score of 7.5/10 and strongly recommend it.

This is one of the most realistic and shocking movies about drugs ever made, and one of the best I have ever seen. Set in Bilbao Spain in the early 80's we meet two teenagers Paco and Urko who deal drugs for living and hag out with Betty a foreign prostitute whom together they share sex and drugs mainly Heroin, Paco also hags out with a Homosexual local artist in secret. Well, the problem begins when Paco and Urko become addicted to Heroin, and not only that, Paco is the son of a sergeant of the Guardia Civil and Urko's dad is a leader of an important political party.

The film's atmosphere is cold and dark, the scenes of drug use sex and nudity are quit explicit, the acting and direction are good, probably one of Eloy De La Iglesias's best work.

Like Chrisnine F. it's based on a true story, the sequel is also not to be missed (EL PICO 2)

Interesting and thought-provoking look about youthful delinquency , drugs and terrorism in Spain from the 80s . Intelligent , shocking and thrilling film based on facts about juvenile delinquency in north of Spain . It deals with a duo of inseparable friends turned delinquents named Paco(Jose Luis Manzano) and Urko (Javier Garcia) , together they share drugs . They are forced into street hustling and ever-expanding life of crime . Paco is son of a stiff Guardia Civil Commandant (Jose Manuel Cervino) and Urko of an Aberzale Congressman (Luis Iriondo) . The protagonists choose to live dangerously and they are forced to take a life of crime to survive and attempt to flee the suburbs of Bilbao . Paco hag out with Betty (Lali Espinet) ,an Argentinian whore who deliver them heroin . Paco also hags out with a gay sculptor (Enrique San Francisco) who helps him . Both of them scheme and carry out robberies to earn money in and around Bilbao , Baracaldo and Neguri slums . So, they'll have to gather some money and in order to get drug mainly heroin and anything that's necessary to obtain it . The young junkers in Bilbao embark on an armed robbery to raise the money that they use to rise their existence . As they attack a drug-runner named El Cojo (Ovidi Montllor) and his wife (Marta Molins) and the events get worse .

¨El Pico¨ is one of several movies dealing with youth delinquence in Spain during the 70s and early 80s along with ¨Perros Callejeros I and II¨, ¨ Los ultimos Golpes Del Torete¨, ¨Yo el Vaquilla¨, mostly realized by Jose Antonio De La Loma , ¨Navajeros , "Colegas", "El Pico 2" and especially ¨Deprisa , Deprisa¨ by Carlos Saura and later ¨La Estanquera De Vallecas ¨ , among others . These films were notorious in the years of the Spanish transition to democracy including provoking and polemic issues and played by unknown young people . His style is pretty much urban and realistic as well in the atmosphere as in the fresh dialog and attempted to take a position in favor of outcast people . Drugs , delinquency, and generational problems are the habitual subjects in these films and specially dedicated to the underworld of heroin and a very realistic look at drug addiction . Passing of time hasn't had mercy with most of those movies , but they represented a time and a way of life in the history of Spain ; and now they may seem a little bit naive . In ¨El pico¨ we watch the day-by-day of a duo of delinquents committing violent crimes , however Eloy De La Iglesia got to make a both lyric and documentary-style flick . A great look at young life and friendship in the margined side let the story flow efficiently and being realized in realistic style . We see their troubles growing in such streets , slums or "barrio" from Bilbao and outskirts as Baracaldo and Neguri and some fine locations . The director creates a sort of Spanish Neo-Realism by tackling the juvenile delinquency in the Bilbao streets from a sociological point of view . Eloy De La Iglesia shows the ugliness of those "barrios" , toughness and cold existence . The screenplay by Gonzalo Goicoechea is such strong with disagreeable events , including lots of nudism , violent scenes , though also with some ingenuousness , but in 1980, a few years after General Franco died it wasn't naive at all. Eloy De La Iglesia chose young and natural actors as Jose Luis Manzano and Javier Garcia who play their part to the hilt , unafraid of filmmaker's unsympathetic camera and the particularity of the characters . Passable photography with juicy atmosphere by Hans Burman , deemed one of the best Spanish cameraman , but unfortunately turns too much murky in some video print , being necessary a a correct remastering . Followed by another surprising sequel ¨El Pico II¨ with same actors and director .

The motion picture is professionally directed by Eloy De La Iglesia though with some flaws and gaps . De La Iglesia is a good Spanish movies director , he began working in cinema in 1966, though he became notorious in the years of the Spanish transition to democracy with shocking and polemic films as ¨El Pico 1 and 2¨ , ¨El Diputado¨, ¨The priest , ¨Clockwork terror¨ , ¨La Otra Alcoba¨ , ¨El Techo De Cristal¨, ¨La Semana Del Asesino¨ , and after ¨Bulgarian lovers¨ and many others . Drugs, delinquency, terrorism and generational problems are the habitual subjects in his films , and specially dedicated to the underworld of heroin ; as well as the gay world . With the passing of time hasn't had no mercy with most of Eloy's movies, but there they are : they represent a time and a way of life in the history of Spain ; and now they may seem a little bit ingenious . As Eloy De La Iglesia chose young and natural actors Jose Luis Manzano , Pirri, or Quique San Francisco were the usual ones . All of them early deceased by drugging , including the filmmaker . Rating : 5,5 , Acceptable and passable.

I am from Bilbao, Basque Country. I find that movie really a nice and very convincing tale of what was going on those years with GUARDIA CIVIL, Spanish police, the oppression against anything that was basque and the drugs that were used by the spanish police at that time, as a weapon against people. Against the free will of the basque politics.

Oppresion was shown on both sides of the society.

Young people was into heroin, that make them an instrument of the power, they were more interested in substance than in their freedom. And this is an important thing that is displayed into the movie, because that was what actually happened here. Of course, there was something else and it was the spanish goberment using violence and terrorism against the freedom of basque people. But that was going to be another story, told later on.

7 stars out of 10.