Por no quedar pobre

When I saw the poster of "Torremolinos 73" at my favorite movie theater, it was clear: I had to see that movie.

I expected 90 minutes of bursting out laughing. Let's say, that wasn't exactly the case.

It sure has its moments of incredible comedy but, surprisingly, also moments of real tragedy and drama. I was quite stunned.

In the end, the story is absolutely original, I wouldn't know about anything similar, the actors all do a great job, the dialog is mostly very nice and all this ends up in a fine little piece of entertainment.

Not perfect, not amazing, but amusing and entertaining? Definitely!

My wife is kinda obsessed with non-American filmography and she insists on watching every non-American movie on a theater near us. Well, I can't say I am a fan of Hollyweird myself - on the contrary - but I like the independents and on occasion I can even rent a blockbuster for a couple of popcorn hours at home.

So, she dragged me (almost literally) to said theater to watch "a Spanish comedy". She's an avid Almodovar fan (I am not) and so gets pretty much excited over Spanish films.

We went into the theater along with 15 (yes, fifteen) other spectators... not much of an atmosphere, huh? I was not fairly predisposed towards the film, to say the least.

After the two hours have passed, though, I was in love with this little gem! Torremolinos '73 is a very smart film, and has lots to give to any open-minded person, especially if said person has a decent knowledge of Bergman's films.

The first part is extremely funny. Especially the scenes with the couple shooting the ...educating movies, are hilarious. Irony is all over the place, subtle references to Frankist Spain are obvious to those who know what they should look about, but everything serves the purpose to have a good laugh, even if you have to actually think about the film to do so.

The second part is not as funny, but I almost wet myself while the aspiring director Bergman-wannabe shoots a number of scenes with his utterly talent-less wife, imitating every last cadre of a Bergman film! To sum this up: If you are not annoyed by ample nudity (I have to say this since IMDb is also accessed by... ahem... cultures not quite fond of nudity), you like witty (the Spanish way) humor and you are a bit of a Bergman-geek (does such an animal even exist???) you are going to adore Torremolinos '73, as I did.

Probably the best comedy (by far...) I watched this summer.

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 .

'Torremolinos 73' is the proof that Spanish cinema is nowadays one of the best in the world, and that Almodovar is not the only one who makes it deserve this honor. Pablo Berger is the director and this is only his second film, but the work is of a mature creator, mastering the subject, with a deep understanding of the time the plot happens, with a strong hand in directing his actors, while leaving them enough space for creativity.

The plot happens in 1973, a moment before the fascist dictatorship in Spain fell, and Spain re-joined the family of democratic nations. A not so young couple anticipates in a way the cultural and economic revolution all Spain will go soon, by acting and producing porno movies for the Scandinavian market under the pretext of 'researching reproduction morals in different countries'. The film tells a lot about the process of transition between dictatorship and democracy and its moral risks, about the contrast between tradition and liberal morals, about the relation between pornography and art. All is done in good taste, even the soft core porno scenes are justified for a change. The actors are wonderful, they create empathy with the viewer, and they are credible as characters.

9 out of 10 on my personal scale.

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.