Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón

All the energy put in Pepi... is enough to go and see it. That a young director show so much enthusiasm is a litmus test to see if he really loves his story, his actors... and the medium, cinema at large. Far from all those neurotic self-centered so-called authors who will only deal with their obsessions through intimate and intricate tales.

Sure, Almodovar gives so much in the first half (i.e. till Luci leaves her home) that the following is not so surprising and exciting. But he learnt later to build up his stories mastering pace all along. As for then he steps out from underground flicks yet displaying great skills.

He will be back.

Actually this is my favorite Almodóvar film because he wasn't trying to please or appease anyone with this movie, he just says what he wants to say and does it in a very original and (at the time) provocative way. A bit dated now but still a brilliant deconstruction of Spanish culture with zany characters taken straight out of a John Waters movie. It's also the only one of his movies where Almodóvar (looking VERY young) makes an appearance himself (as the judge of a penis size competition no less).

Considering that this movie was made in less than a week with a budget of around $5,000, it's actually quite well done. The cinematography is probably the weak point but the story is great and the characters a parody of everything good and bad about Spain in the 80's. It is full of in-your-face-irreverent kind of humor as well as great little cultural bits and references that only native Spanish speakers or people familiar with Spanish culture will get. One of my favorites is the song "Murciana Marrana" that Alaska and her punk rock band sing as an ode to her new found lesbian lover and repressed house wife - hilarious lyrics and pure 80s punk rock at its best. The movie itself is really genius and despite some technical shortcomings, it's a real gem.

Pepi, Luci and Bom (1980) is a twisted sexually perverse comedy from Pedro Almodovar. The story revolves around three working class women living in Madrid, Spain. Carmen Maura (an Almodovar regular) is the star of this very low budget film. A meek house wife is slowly seduced by her lesbian next door neighbor ( part of a plot to get revenge on her abusive husband) is one of the many strange events that occur in this farce.

The seduction techniques are very "unique" and creative to say the least. The director flows the exploits of the three friends as they hang out in the emerging seedy underground of Spain.

A n interesting movie from rising film-maker Pedro Almodovar. You also get a first hand look at life after the dictatorial reign of one Franco. A lot of sexual repression and tension was released in the streets after he left power. How much can the average viewer take? Well since this is an Almodovar film, it's only for die-hard fans or if you like some of John Waters earlier work. Others stay, don't say I didn't warn you.

Recommended for viewers of esoteric foreign films.

B

This is the power of filmaking. It proves that passion for an art can outstand the difficulties. It might be cheap (it looks cheap) but the redeeming value is the hilarity, the originality of the ideas, the true passion of a true artist.

Director/writer Almodovar, in this first full length, presents us with his absurd unreal world. This is partly a relentless satire of S/M personalities, but intentionally unrealistic and much more. A world where lust is orgasmic and corruption of ethics and loss of dignity are ... funny! This is by no means for those who are offended easily. This is a movie which disregards ever good manner, every culture's rules. Almodovar humour is heretic. If you're up for something different, weird f##ked up humour, then come and join, welcome to Almodovar world. This is not quite recommended to "Talk to her" fans. But if you like early Almodovar, it is essential to search for this, to see how everything started.

I like this movie,maybe it's not the best of Almodovar but it's the first containing all the themes that he will explore. It's a movie about freedom,the new freedom acquired by Spanish, Franco is dead and now they can do whatever they want, even bad taste jokes. It's the beginning of "la Movida",now they can criticize stupid cops with their macho mustache,now they can urinate where they want... I like it because it's the awakening of Spain, with all the excess possible,with all it's qualities and defaults. this movie is a sort of coming out,Spain have the right to do what it want to do. It's the first spit against pseudo-morality against the wall erected by Franco all over Spain. It's a punk movie.