Inconscientes

This is a Freudian comedy set in Barcelona , 1913 . The picture concerns about Alma (Leonor Watling) and her hubby Doctor Leon Pardo (Alex Brendemuhl) who is a psychiatrist follower of theories about sexuality and hysteria by Sigmund Freud . Her brother-in-law is Salvador (Luis Tosar) and married to Olivia (Nuria Prims), daughter of a famous psychiatrist (Juanjo Puigcorbe) . He is lustfully wishing to Alma . As Leon leaves her about to give birth and both start to investigate . The only tracks they get is a manuscript and going on a successive intrigues where are blended dangers , homosexual ball , brothels and a twisted ending . This is a fun Spanish movie that playfully questions sexual taboos through a Sherlock Holmes-style investigation .

This is a hilarious film and a sexy costumer comedy . Humor is sometimes cheesy and gross-out with numerous naughty and picaresque situations such as sex jokes , adulteries , incest and adult scenes . The plot is ridiculous and embarrassment but has its sympathetic moments here and there and it is formed by some humor set-pieces that divide the action in diverse episodes . The movie is well set on Barcelona 1913 , Art Deco , and modernism epoch , being magnificently reflected in luxurious palaces , houses and rooms . The picture is starred by Leonor Watling (The bad education , Talk to her , Desire) , an Almodovar girl , she gives an enjoyable acting and Luis Tosar (Mondays in the sun , Thirteen chimes) who is miscasting but he is a serious actor no apt for comedy , and even though he earned his best reviews with Celda 211 he considers to be this one of the weakest performances . Both of whom are making an American career , she playing ¨My life without me¨ and Tosar with ¨Miami vice¨ . The motion picture was regularly directed by Joaquin Oristrell (No shame) being more famous as a writer (Love causes seriously damage your health , Off Key , Between your legs , Extasis) than as a filmmaker . The flick will appeal to Spanish cinema buffs . Rating : average but entertaining.

Unconscious, which just had its international (outside of Spain) premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, is a very good comedy/mystery. The art direction is very convincing, the dialogue is charming and fast paced and the plot twists are satisfyingly unpredictable. The Spanish cinema is blessed with a broad selection of films that focus on early twentieth century Spain, and this is a welcome addition to that group. It also features a strong comedic performance from Leonor Watling (from Almodovar's Talk to Her) who richly deserves an increased amount of recognition on the international cinema scene. Luis Tosar also does a very fine job as Salvador, the somewhat hapless male lead.

I've just seen "Unconscious" on DVD. Wonderful! I picked it up at the video store just by chance, and I am gratefully surprised. The look is awesome and the story catches you up to the end. The modernist settings in Barcelona are so beautiful, and so the movie has an original look.

The sound, though, was not very good. In part because of the actors (many of them, the young ones, don't vocalize and it gets hard to understand their speeches) or maybe t'was the copy. Don't know.

The only thing I dind't like was the obvious and tiring sex references during all the movie. It's supposed to be 1913, I don't think people would talk about this stuff so naturally in those days in Spain.

Anyhow, very good story, funny gags, a nice look, and suggestive music. Eigth out of ten, to me.

When Freud is going to visit Spain, the most known psychiatric doctor disappears and his wife and his brother-in-law start a research in his last cases in order to discover what has happened to him. With a tendency to absurd all the cases presents us a group of crazy people obsessed with something: sex. The research will continue as they both discover things about themselves that they didn't know, all mixed with great and funny jokes and a delicious script that makes the spectator to enjoy himself during all the time of the film. In addition to being funny, actors are very good and they make great parts. This is a great comedy, ideal to laugh a lot as we think about our taboos in our lives; unluckily, this great film has passed by totally undiscovered for most of the Spanish people and it has not had the success it deserves. I highly recommend to see it in order to spend a great, funny time.

Joaquín Oristrell abandons his usual contemporary urban comedies to write and direct this delightful period comedy that takes place in Barcelona in the early 20th century. With the beginnings of psychoanalysis as a leit-motiv and background, brother and sister-in-law Salvador and Alma get involved in a charming quest for the truth.

Leonor Watling is simply outstanding as nine-months pregnant Alma, a neurotic yet lovable character that lets Watling show her great skill as a comedienne. In his first truly comedic role, Luis Tosar passes the test and confirms himself as one of our greatest actors. The couple show a great chemistry together, almost a rarity in most films today.

Joaquín Oristrell is to be praised for his directorial work, since he's been getting better with each film since his debut with the average "De qué se ríen las mujeres". With "Inconscientes" he has a achieved an entertaining, technically perfect and engaging film.

Overall rating: 8/10