Gaudi Afternoon

From the opening credits, a marvelous montage of organic elements rendered in a very Gaudi-esque style, I had a sense that this would be a quirky and fun film. I was not disappointed. If you have ever lived as an expatriate, you will immediately identify with the Judy Davis character. The terrific soundtrack captures the lure of Catalonia, especially the signature tune, "Sway (Quien Sera)" written by Norman Gimbel and Pablo Beltran Ruiz and sung by Dean Martin.

There is no nudity or sex in this film and the fact that the characters aren't hetero is only a plot device and is not otherwise significant. Surprisingly, Juliette Lewis is the weakest performer of the entire cast. Extremely enjoyable!

I was curious to see this film because of Judy Davis and Marcia Gay Harden being in it. I was surprised, then, to see Lili Taylor and Juliette Lewis as well. The acting was admirable on all accounts and Judy Davis played a tough and curious literary woman translator that Davis was able to make likable despite the character being repressed and brittle.

The story worked up until near the end when things got a little ludicrous concerning people meeting up and then the child disappearing and it seemed weirdly frantic at some points. For the most part it was an enjoyable film with surprises now and then. I was quite surprised to learn after I looked up some information later about this film that it was directed by Susan Seidelman as I've liked her work in the past. It's good to know she still has a flair for creating films about women who are put in situations where they begin to questions their lives so far and the decisions they've made.

Somebody will have to explain to me why this movie hasn't gotten more recognition. It is an absolutely delightful, wacky comedy, easily the best thing Susan Seidelman has done since "Desparately Seeking Susan". Judy Davis is great as usual as the people-avoiding translator who gets involved in a very unique domestic squabble and Marcia Gay Harden, Lili Taylor and Juliette Lewis are wonderful as the dramatis personae in said squabble (which turns out to be much weirder than it first seems). Harden's curvy, campy Frankie is especially memorable. It's a great film that makes strong points about the unpredictable nature of love without preaching and setting it in the Gaudi-designed wonderland of Barcelona makes it even more special. If anybody in America had seen this movie, it would have gotten raves from a lot of film critics. Certainly it's funnier and warmer than 99% of the well-known romantic comedies that have played in the States lately.

Terrific mystery story filmed in Barcelona, Spain, stars Judy Davis as an American loner who translates books. One day she meets a mysterious woman named Frankie (Marcia Gay Harden) who wants to hire her to find her husband. She can't speak Spanish (actually it's Catalan in Barcelona) and needs her help. She offers quick cash, so Davis takes the seemingly innocent job.

Instead, Davis finds herself caught up in a web of deception that includes the husband, a kid, a woman named April, and a magician. No one is what they seems to be.

Set against the spectacular and other-worldly architecture of Antoni Gaudi, the story delves into a shadowy world and teaches Davis a big lesson in,life.

As Cassandra the translator, Judy Davis brings her brittle edginess to the fore and creates a believable character who can't stop being intrigued by the bizarre people she meets. Marcia Gay Harden is a hoot as Frankie, and she's matched by Juliette Lewis as the hippie April, Lili Taylor as Ben, and Christopher Bowen as Hamilton the magician who lip syncs to Dean Martin's "Sway" in his nightclub act. Also Courtney Jines as the kid and Maria Barranco as the landlady.

Memorable film is a feast for the eyes and offers several excellent performances. Not to be missed.

So you want a movie where a heterosexual woman gets inside a detective story set in a queer underworld, so to speak. She is not heavily shocked, but rather bemused, mostly, as the situations and the people she meet are not really very dangerous. If this sounds good, then I suppose this movie is for you, as it has some unusual characters, but it seems friendly to everyone, including the viewer. I found it funny and charming.