Operación Concha

"Operation Goldenshell (Operación Concha)" (2017, Abra Producciones/Spline Producciones) directed and co-written by Antonio Cuadri and starring Spanish-talent extraordinaire, Jordi Mollà with other Latin American and Spanish actors. This film inspired by the spirit of film making and the San Sebastián International Film Festival or known in Spain as the Festival de San Sebastián.

Cuadri's film stars the comedic talents of Mollà as his plays the con artist character, Litarco and with veteran Spanish actors like Karra Elejalde. With small supporting roles, Uruguayan, Bárbara Mori and Mexicana, Mara Escalante play the roles of a famous US Latina celebrity, Joselyn and a wealthy Mexican woman, Pamela.

It's a zany international comedy of a struggling film production who try to con Pamela (Escalante) in giving them money to produce a new film to star a famous Cuban actor, Rey also played by Mollà. They enlist Litarco to act as the Cuban actor as they attend the famous the San Sebastián International Film Festival to finalize the money deal. Along the way, the mafia go after Litarco as he tries, in between the action, to get the "action" from Rey's leading lady, Joselyn (Mori).

All scenarios clash at the famous film festival, Cuadri giving his nods to many Hollywood movies, with a parody melange of scenes. This festival started in Basque Spain since the late 1950s honoring many actors with their famous Donostia award (even US talents like Meryl Streep in 2008).

This is a slightly funny film with entertaining events , giggles , emotion , twists and romances ; being originally written by the prestigious screen-writer and filmmaker Antonio Cuadri . This is a typical Spanish comedy with the customary ingredients such as silly humor , embarrassing events and close relationships among people to commit a fraud . A con-artist producer (Karra Errejalde) of a bankrupt film Company along with his colleague Sabino (Ramón Agirre) and a filmmaker named Julen (Unax Ugalde) attempt to lure a Mexican investor called Pamela (Escalante) in giving them money to finance a new film by hiring a movie star's look-alike (Jordi Mollá as Litarco and Rey Silvela) and passing him off as the real deal . As the film production attempts to contract a famous Cuban actor, Rey also played by Mollà , but things go wrong . Along the way, the mafia go after Litarco who debts them a lot of cash , meanwhile he tries to make love with Rey's leading lady, Joselyn (Barbara Mori).

Amusing and twisted comedy about a disconcerting caper with a lot of surprises and turns . This zany and nutty international comedy moves in fits and starts most of which would be desirable , with more traps the viewer resists any kind, and some moments of enjoyment and others quite a few ridiculous . Dealing with a swindle in which a crew of failed producers enlist a botcher ex-convict named Litarco to pose as the Cuban actor who is attending the famous the San Sebastián International Film Festival to receive a honorific award . It is a special Spanish comedy from 2017 with the usual ingredients such as wild humor topped with a little bit of original touches here and there and the tone of the film is light-hearted . It's an agreeable , moving film , perfectly acted and concerning the narration about the relationship among a botcher ex-delinquent , some unfortunate producers , a Mexican actress , and the nasty Mafia pursue them . It turns out to be pleasantly fun that offers no intellectual stimulus whatsoever ; an exercise in pure amusement in which entertainment and fun are guaranteed . The characters are quite odd , grotesque and weird and the film races on at incredible speed . Sitting in a strange middle ground between the completely absurd and the stylishly cool . Nice acting by Jordi Mollá in double role as a womanizer trickster and his doppelganger actor . Splendid , as usual , Karra Errejalde as the hapless producer with no money , well accompanied by a fine plethora of secondaries as Unax Ugalde , Ramón Agirre , Bárbara Goenaga , Bárbara Mori and brief cameo by director Fernando Colomo . On the surface, ¨La Gran Vida¨ doesn't get much wrong , it looks okay , the comedy misunderstandings pile up in a reasonably amusing fashion and the performance is acceptable . My feelings are extremely mixed but I must admit there are things I haven't been able to stop laughing about ; but also has the usual ups and downs .

Including a spotless pictorial as well as colorful cinematography by Josu Inchaustegui (Paradise Hills , La sombra de la ley , Cien años de perdón , El desconocido, Extinction , Inside , A cambio de nada) . Shot on location in Kursal palace, Hotel Maria Cristaina , San Sebastian ; showing splendidly luxurious places such as Hotels , luxury restaurants and the glamorous San Sebastian Festival . Lively and catching musical score by Dario Valderrama , adding wonderful songs . This Operation Goldenshell was compellingly directed by Antonio Cuadri who was born in Huelva (Andalucia) location where he shot his main and big-budgeted film titled ¨The heart of the earth¨ with an international cast . Cuadri is a fine craftsman with some hit , such as ¨La Gran Vida¨ , ¨Eres Mi Heroe¨ and previously made a documentary titled ¨Riotinto (2004)¨. Nowadays , he only directs TV episodes (Cuentame, Manolito Gafotas , UCO , Todos Hombres Sois Iguales , Al Salir De Clase , among them).

Good actors in a bad story and plots. In theory, it is a comedy, but it never fulffils its purpose. One of the worst Spanish comedy that I have watched, avoid it, believe me.