La spagnola

"La Spagnola" (literally "The Spanish Woman", in Italian) is a searingly sexy black comedy from "down-under" that explores the dysfunctional relationship between the fiery and beautiful Spaniard, Lola (Lola Marceli in a star-making performance) and her sensitive and lonely daughter, Lucia (the beguiling newcomer Alice Ansara).

There is not a false note in the entire film. Under Steve Jacobs' assured direction, the faultless performances, stunning cinematography, playful musical score and songs, work their surprising and indelible magic upon us.

Anna-Maria Monticelli's achingly funny yet deceptively simple narrative rings with harsh truths about the migrant experience in 60s Australia, and propels this sublime human drama towards a touching conclusion.

"La Spagnola" is firecracker of a film and a sure-fire bet for the next "Best Foreign Film" Oscar.

What was up the previous reviewers butt, I dont know? Pure hate if you ask me. I mean, how could anyone destroy such a delightful and interestingly shot film so thoroughly as to make this reader doubt it was the same film at all?

This film was refreshing, happy, sad, completely entertaining if you want to see things done freshly with a camera and acting that takes you away into the movie itself. Reaching deep emotions quickly and coming up for air just as fast for the next scene, many times throughout, this cast held me in awe.

I reccomend this film to anyone who simply enjoys film. Period.

And if youre from some difficult childhood issues, you might even relate to the subject matter.

Oh, and take any uncomfortable objects out of your bum before viewing, please, or you'll end up sounding like that other reviewer, no matter the film.

While the DB reviewers all seem to be unsure of what to make of this film, it does indeed have a growing tradition in style with other Australian quirky movies such as Strictly Ballroom, Priscilla, and the Baz Luhrmann Red Curtain series. The staging, cinematography, execution and editing of shots are quick, colourful and energetically paced.

This allows the bizarre story to unfold, and the characters to develop, with explanations for their motivations being revealed gradually. The genius lies in Anna Maria Monticelli's beautiful script which intelligently begins to unravel events that have already occurred without explanation, all in a comfortable linear format. Such imaginative exposition is rarely given without confusing flashbacks, and is the heart of this film. I found the structure elegantly clarified all of the initially obscure scenes.

The mother Lola never becomes sympathetic, however Lola Marceli's sterling debut convinces the viewer of a person becoming truly disturbed by her transplanted identity as Spanish woman amongst Italians, in an uncaring Australian society, deserted by her husband and scorned by her neglected daughter. Alice Ansara's Lucia cool-as-a-cucumber performance is understated and believable, and all the more commendable for her excellent language skills which define her character, and serve as some of the funniest bits of business as she gently toys with her clients' own lack of linguistics.

And of course Alex Dimitriades yet again demonstrates his smouldering leading man persona which we first saw in 1998's masterful "Head On".

Lourdes Bartolomé's turn as catty sister Manola chews the lush scenery and deftly steals the show, particularly in the dancing and cooking sequence! I might point out that she is most entranced by a courgette (zucchini), rather than a cucumber, as one reviewer has written...

There's a lot of negative reviews about this film on this site, but in fact I found it to be quite quirky, funny and engrossing. If you get a chance to see it, do so - you'll be pleasantly surprised by this funny, fiery dysfuctional Austalian film (also good if you're studying Spanish or Italian)

This is such a bleak and plotless film that unless you are looking for a reason to slit your wrists its probably best avoided. Through a series of brief vignettes in a surreal Australian landscape we are acquainted with Lola and her unfortunate daughter Alice both of whom are destined to be forever betrayed not only by the people they encounter but also by each other. The unrelenting grimness is even reflected in their sexual encounters with a succession of squalid and unsatisfying relationships.

I tried very hard to fall asleep during this movie so that the time would pass more quickly but failed miserably and had to endure it to the end.