Por no quedar pobre

"Torremolinos 73" starts out looking like just another dreary dirge about the down-on-his-luck salesman whose soul is being crushed by the emptiness of his existence. Alfredo is struggling to provide for his wife, but failing. Door-to-door sales are being phased out.

Not to worry--his employer has an alternate plan. They will produce "scientific" films about Spanish reproduction customs for sales in Scandinavia.

I don't want to relate any more of the action, but the story turns into a light-hearted comedy about a married couple who truly love each other. By following an odd pathway--spurred by their need for money--they manage to achieve what each wants from life.

Some of the best touches are the use of iconic cinematic images in the filming of the titular film within this film.

Though some reviewers focus on political commentary within the film, this film can be enjoyed on a purely comedic level. Javier Camera, who plays Alfredo, is an affable everyman. Candela Pena, as his wife Carmen, is an unassuming woman who longs for the simple things in life. Together they are a likable couple whose happiness springs from their love for each other.

Pablo Berger, the director of "Torremolinos 73", takes us back to the Spain of the seventies when Franco was still around and where he sets the scene for this satire about the clandestine porno industry. Mr. Berger also wrote the screen play, that at times is mildly amusing by the situation he creates. If you haven't seen the movie, please stop reading here.

We first see Alfredo trying to sell books door to door without much success. His boss calls his staff and informs a new revamping in the business. He is going to start a series of experimental films about sex education that will be marketed abroad. The employees are shocked, and only Alfredo and his wife Carmen, and another man, agree to participate. Carmen wants to have children, which seems not to come to her and Alfredo.

Carmen becomes a favorite sight in the Scandinavian countries, and she is even as identified in a department store in Madrid by one of her fans. Since their Scandinavian instructors keep on quoting the great Ingmar Bergman, Alfredo decides to make his own film that parallels "The Seventh Seal". The shooting is in an empty hotel in Torremolinos where Alfredo and his crew are seen filming the movie in the artistic black and white, but suddenly Carlos, the money man, wants a bit of sex in the picture. Alfredo is shocked because since he is not participating, Carmen will have to perform with the leading man! Javier Camera, who was so good in "Talk to Her" plays Alfredo, the book peddler turned porno film director. Candela Peña makes a good suffering Carmen who is lured into the scheme because of necessity. Juan Diego is seen as Alfredo's boss.

The film has a faded look that blends well with the period its trying to reproduce. The film has some funny moments.

Spanish Cinema has a fairly different wave and it is pleasant to see such movies coming from the new directors with different content & storytelling.

"Torremolinos 73" is an honest movie, as a débutant Pablo Berger has come up with something amusing and solemn.

Set in 1973, an encyclopedia salesman Alfredo who sells it door-by door is not able to meet his ends. He has been given only an alternative by his chief – to make adult movies with wife Carmen or leave the company. After some dithering, they reluctantly accept the proposal and it starts the journey of ecstasy & agony.

Using fade colors, it gives a feel of 70's with some good dialogs and funny situations. Javier Cámara is good as a Bergman's admirer (camera Buff), Candela Peña is incredible as a timid person having some desires to fulfill.

Recommended

7.5/10

Set in 1973 Spain , dealing with a marriage who takes advantage of an offer to make adult films . As Alfredo Lopez" (Javier Camera), is married to "Carmen" (Candela Peña) , hairdresser and faithful wife . When it starts to go wrong his job selling encyclopedias at home , then the head of sales , Don Carlos (Juan Diego) comes up with an idea for a new product line . The company will expand its catalogue to offer an "audiovisual encyclopedia of human reproduction" , essentially 8 millimeter films of couples making love . As they are presented with the opportunity to make money doing erotic films in Super 8, which is exported to Scandinavia in the form of a false encyclopedia about reproduction in the world . Carmen agrees mainly because she has recently lost her job in a local beauty parlour . The act turns him into an aspiring legit filmmaker and her into an international sex symbol . Being inspired by true events .

A good script with comedy , drama and fine players as Javier Camera and Candela Peña . This entertaining as well as interesting Dramedy contains crazy events , nudism , sexual scenes , amusement and absurd situations . Sitting in a strange middle ground between the completely absurd and the stylish set pieces , including various nostalgic moments , paying tribute to music and films of the seventies . It is a crazy Spanish comedy with touches of drama that offers no intellectual stimulus whatsoever , though it has some fun and hilarious moments . Humor is sometimes cheesy and gross-out with numerous naughty and picaresque situations such as sex jokes , adultery , jealousy , and erotic scenes . It partially sets the tone of the times in the seventies when had been made lots of films about nudism or ¨Destape¨. In fact , this film belongs to a nostalgic sub-genre regarding the eroticism and nudism on the mass during the thunderous 70s such as ¨Dias De Cine¨ by David Serrano and ¨Los Años Desnudos (Clasificada S)¨ by Dunia Ayoso and Felix Sabroso . Behind this title hides a story based on real events, with its director Pablo Berger makes her special tribute to cinema , with references to Bergman , the Spanish comedies , even porn. But not only accomplishes that , shows that there are many ways to do comedy without falling into vulgarity. It is an acceptable production plenty of nudism and sexual scenes , but is saved by an intelligent as well as unpretentious script with several very funny scenes . All this is achieved by comedians like Javier Cámara and Candela Peña they are the perfect combination to get laughs and tears , at the same time .

It stands out the nice acting from Javier Camera as a struggling encyclopedia salesman become porno actor and charming Candela Peña as his wife who really wants to have a child . The picture provides a passel of brief or cameo appearances such as Malena Alterio , Marivi Bilbao , Máximo Valverde , Jaime Blanch , Mariano Peña, Ana Wagener , Ramón Barea and special appearance by Carmen Machi . Evocative cinematography by Kiko De La Rica , one of the best Spanish cameramen who has photographed great titles as ¨Lucia Y el Sexo¨, ¨El Calentito¨ , ¨Witching and Bitching¨ , "A Sad Trumpet Ballad" ¨The Oxford crimes¨ , ¨Snow White¨ , among others . Lively as well as adequate musical score , plenty of wonderful songs , by Nacho Mastretta , a good professional who has composed soundtracks in a lot of famous movies such as ¨El Gran Vázquez¨ (2010) , ¨Va a Ser Nadie Es Perfecto¨ (2006) and ¨La Hija Del Cannibal¨ (2003) . The motion picture was well produced and compellingly directed by Pablo Berger , a very good Spanish movies director . A very worthy debut that demonstrated how with simple jobs can make a splendid film . The flick delivered a successful result and achieved various Goya Awards . Director Pablo Berger developed the project for some years before being able to shoot it . Pablo is a well recognized filmmaker both nationally and internationally , and in proof of it he won many prizes in several Festivals , as this his feature debut ¨Torremolinos 73¨ , as well as the excellent ¨Snow White¨ or ¨Blancanieves¨ . Rating : Above average , essential and indispensable watching for Spanish cinema fans .

I found this to be a captivating and entertaining movie - great pains were taken to reproduce that 70's look and feel and it is totally convincing. While seemingly limited in their ambitions, the main characters are nevertheless sympathetic and there are some quirky sidekicks whose characters are fleshed out enough to be entertaining as well - everyone from the landlady, the boss, to the friend who drives. I also found myself seriously enjoying the director's X-rated version of an Ingmar Bergman film over the actual film it self. The woman doesn't have much ambition aside from being "womanly" but it is based on a true incident and hey it was the 70's in Spain.