Tiempo después

Surreal humor moved to an uncertain future world, but no less philosophical and reflective

It may seem that everything is Ok with this film: social message, good acting, good cinematography, clever dialogs, but...but..It is too boring.

It is not Amanece que no es poco but is close. Rural Spanish surrealism . José Luis Cuerda at his best.

An abstract and embarrassing film set in a far future, the year 9177. World is limited to a high skycraper in middle of a barren landscape, surrounded by small isolated slums and ruined shacks where live the lower classes . At the building lives the upper class and governs an absented-mind king, a mayor, a management staff, while two Guardias Civiles watch and control by entering through the multitude of doors at the skycraper. Other peculiar characters are the hairdressers, a veteran shepherd caring his sheep across the corridors , a bartender, a nun, a priest and a man who attempts to sell lemonade. Then, there takes place a riot, and the hapless people living outskirts the building enter at the skycraper to reckoning against the powerful rulers.

This is a disconcerting flick providing Spanish star-studded, including a numerous cast with 20 protagonists, at least. Standing out the following ones : Roberto Alamo, Blanca Suarez, Iñaqui Ardenaz, Manolo Solo, Antonio de la Torre . And Tv stars and presenters as Berto Romero, Eva Hache, Andreu Buenafuente who also produced. And other secondaries in brief appearances as Secun De La Rosa, Gabino Diego, Saturnino Garcia, Carlos Areces and a singer : Miguel Rios, among others. Director Jose Luis Cuerda shows his special sense of humor in which blends social as well as political critique, life, death, religion, fight of classes and upheavals. The picture relies heavily on repetitive situations, silly happenings, long speeches, sentences without sense and absurd deeds. This film belongs to a surrealist trilogy made in similar style : first the successful Amanece que no es poco 1989 and Asi en el cielo como en la tierra 1995, these movies provide the peculiar absurd humor of this good filmmaker Jose Luis Cuerda.

It packs a luxurious and colorful cinematography by Pau Esteve. And lively, enjoyable score by notorious composer Lucio Godoy. This film was written by Jose Luis Cuerda who also produced and directed, as usual. Cuerda is an expert professional, being his film debut Pares y Nones, a typical Madrid comedy. He subsequently made El Bosque Animado with writings by Rafael Azcona and himself, being based on Wenceslao Fernandez Florez novel. He followed shooting drama : La viuda del Capitan Contreras and more and more comedies as Tocando Fondo and La Marrana. His biggest hits correspond as a producer, as he produced for Alejandro Amenabar : Tesis and Abre Los Ojos. His highest acclaimed film as a director was Lengua de las Mariposas that won various Goya Awards, prizes and niminations. Rating 5.5/10. Passable.

The follow up to "Amanece que no es poco" is another satire far more aggressive and deeper than the original. The critic about Spanish capitalism, class struggle and how the richer engulfs the lower classes almost on the Marxist level. Church is the another target too. Cuerda made an interesting film and if you are able to follow up the dialogs and classic literature it is even better; however it is obviously not for everybody even if you are Spanish born. A repetitive viewing could help get some of the jokes but those looking for light comedy will be frustrated and it was on the original. In brief; interesting and leave you thinking a lot. It is not as leftitest as it seems but is far from conservative.