Amanece, que no es poco

A very intelligent Spanish surrealist comedy from the late 1980s that simply can't be retold. Surrealism distorts reality to breaking point, to the absurd and impossible, and puts us in position to laugh at ourselves while at the same time exposing stereotypes, questioning accepted norms and shows the suppressed truth behind the official stories. On every step this movie is a fierce critique of Spain under the dictatorship of General Franco (1939-1976), but equally a sharp in-depth critique of contemporary Spain in which everything changed in order for nothing to change. Everything is the same as before, but with other names. Even if we disregard the level of political and social criticism, this is a very funny, and sadly underrated, comedy with countless insane turns, surreal situations and universal analogies that can be applied to many contemporary societies. Those who do not speak Spanish will be pressed to comprehend all word games, and those who are not familiar with the situation and developments in Spain will be challenged to understand all the metaphors, analogies, hyperboles and sarcastic jokes related to the Spanish context. Regardless, this movie is worth a look because it is far beyond any usual comedy.

Well, this is certainly one of those movies that seize your attention from minute one and keep you there all through the show. It's in the best tradition of Spanish surreal humor (like Luis Garcia Berlanga's "Calabuch") but, unlike that one, is far more caustic with 80's Spanish reality and social elements. In fact, what is said about 80's Spain could also be a good description of many other societies of those years but, obviously, you would have to change the village priest or the Civil Guard or the Mayor (which, in one of the most far-fetched, yet brilliant utterances in the movie, is claimed to be "necessary, while we villains are contingent" - take a look at a dictionary to get that one) for equivalent figures in your own society. On the other hand, some of the characters in the movie are definitely peculiar and purposely surrealistic. For instance, the Argentinean guy who claim to be a writer but, each time he starts writing a new book it turns out to be a plagiarized copy of some Faulkner or Chekhov work. The Belgian group of tourists that visit the village with the very curious but determined purpose of hearing the Priest while celebrating mess because the man is so very skillful and wonderful in elevating the holy host towards the heavens. The public meeting ordered by the Mayor in front of the city hall in order to remember "what everybody was doing on June 24, 1947" and have a little flashback experience (obviously, the Belgian group disappears immediately since they weren't at the village a that time). Some others are pretty down-to-earth and perfectly recognizable, like the hackneyed bunch of American university youngsters with their sans-souci attitude and naive approach to everything that happens in the village. To cut a rather long story short, this movie is a whole new cinematic experience and in the good sense too. Highly recommendable.

This movie is probably one of the most interesting examples on surrealist comedy in the modern spanish history. It's a critic, acid portrait of what has been Spain under the dictatorship of General Franco, and specially critic with how is Spain actually - which is the same as before, but with other names. Being surrealist (or even totally unreal) it's hard to follow all the metaphors, analogies, hyperboles present in this movie, and besides the language barrier, it will be very hard to understand by non-spanish viewers in this context of being just a critic. Still, many of the critics can be applied to any of the "modern, free" societies all around.

But besides the "serious" part, this is also one of the best comedies, and most underrated, obscure and hardly known spanish movies. Its very special and unique sense of humor can only make you laugh again and again even about the saddest things. Continuous changes of points of view, jokes, absurd situations, killing topics and killer topics too. One of the most funny movies certainly, and worth it for a mindless laugh or for a insightful, deep view of the spanish society, or any other society for what it seems. If you have the opportunity, please watch it.

Absolutely loved it. Great. Absurd humour at its best.

Absurde , choral and upsetting story dealing with Professor Teodoro (Antonio Resines) of Oklahoma University who along with his father (Luis Ciges) are traveling around Europa on a motorcycle with sidecar when they arrive in a village where happens fantastic happenings . As the priest (Cassen) carries out a particular mass , the Mayor (Rafael Alonso) has problems with neighbours who want to share his woman (Fedra Lorente) , people knows the William Faulkner's novels , while a Corporal (Jose Sazatoril ¨Saza¨) of Guardia Civil has to face strange events . Then there appears some students from American Euton University , Belgian meteorologists and many others things.

A numerous cast plays a lot of characters and forty protagonists , at least . Screenwriter , Director Jose Luis Cuerda tells his special humor in which blends life , death , religion sex and songs . This rural comedy relies on repetitive situations , silly scenes and absurd deeds . Strange happenings occur on the village and surroundings , as men grow on lands , raining rice , a chore of the Russian Army singing and dancing in the church , Mayor's hanging , rare levitation , among others . This highly valuable tale results to be a surrealist comedy with an excellent Spanish-all-star cast as Antonio Resines , Jose Sazatornil, Rafael Alonso , Aurora Bautista , Gabino Diego and a notorious secondary cast as Fernando Valverde , Pastora Vega , Luis Ciges , Fedra Lorente , Ovidio Montllor , Rosalia dans , Manuel Alexandre , Guillermo Montesino , Rosalia Dans , Violeta Cela and many others . The actors say rare and embarrassing dialogs in utter seriousness.

It is a disconcerting flick by Jose Luis Cuerda who also efficiently wrote/produced/directed and resulted to get an acceptable success at Spanish Box office . Cuerda is a veteran professional , being his film debut ¨Pares and Nones¨ a typical Madrid comedy . He subsequently directed ¨El Bosque Animado¨ also with script by notorious Rafael Azcona and based on Wenceslao Fernandez Florez's novel . He followed directing failures as a drama titled ¨Viuda De Capitan Contreras¨ and more comedies as ¨La Marrana¨ and ¨Tocando Fondo¨ . His greatest success corresponds as producer , as he produced hits for Alejandro Amenabar as ¨Tesis¨ and ¨Abre Los Ojos¨, among others . His highly-acclaimed and successful movie was ¨Lengua De Mariposas¨ , it has a rating as better than average and is a beautiful and powerful film . His most personal movies were two comedies with a peculiar and surrealist sense of humor , this ¨Amanece Que no Es Poco¨ and the following titled ¨Asi en el Cielo Como en Tierra¨ but in anti-religion tendency .