El extraño viaje

Originally titled `El Crimen de Mazarrón', which was suppressed by the censorship of the times, `El Extraño Viaje' remains a surprising element in the midst of a rather negative period of time in Spanish contemporary history, artistically speaking. The surprise lies more in its content than in any other aspects of the film per se. However, this piece, directed by Fernando Fernán Gómez, arose from the mysterious appearance of two corpses on the beach of Mazarrón, Murcia, as mentioned by Carlos Saura in a conversation with Fernán Gómez, who anecdotically said that a film could be made out of such an occurence. Fernán Gomez took his word for it.

So with the misleadingly mysterious title of `El Extraño Viaje', filmed in quaintly-styled black and white around the then peaceable and rural towns of Loeches, Madrid and La Pola, Valencia, today localities which are anything but peaceable and rural, was born. Two rather backward middle-aged brother and sister - nice playing here by Rafaela Aparicio completely overriding an unconvincing Jesús Franco (aka Jess Franco and about a hundred other pseudonyms, no doubt with the intention of covering up his own mediocrity, anyway) live in the unfortunate circumstance of their exceedingly rich elder sister's care in a huge mansion house. But when she decides she wants to sell up everything and travel the wide world - the Carribean, Paris ooh-la-la - her younger brother and sister get overly worried.

The `noir' aspect of film-making is hugely present with just that touch of ironic or even sarcastic humour which converts the telling almost into the horror genre; but that in itself was not the purpose, shall we say, of the film. Rather, the story itself and the locations, embroidered in a nostalgic black and white back-cloth, is a kind of wistful sojourn - especially seen from our stance near 40 years later - which intelligently combined with almost whimsical situations and `noir' humour so as to underline but not hamper any other gruesome aspects.

This certainly becomes clear when they enjoy a `good strong wine with plenty of body'. Excruciating, too say the least, and nicely juxtaposed in the development.

Carlos Larrañaga did not exactly impress with his performance: he seemed to lack that something which entoned with the other characters around him in the midst of the goings-on; his playing with Tota Alba lacked synthesis. However, Tota Alba was good, but Rafaela Aparicio was even better. Many of the lesser actors were really tremendous! Good thinking here by the director.

Yes, this film was a nice surprise, hailing as it does from those years which were rather blank.

Based on an actual event called "the crime of Mazarrón", that inspired Luis Garcia Berlanga to write this particular story in the best Spanish tradition and including interesting as well as amusing screenplay by Paco Beltrán and Manuel Ruiz Castillo . This damned film or ¨Pelicula Maldita¨ deals with Paquita (Rafaela Aparicio) and her brother Venancio (Jesús , ¨Jess Frank¨ , Franco) , both single and childish , live in a village near Madrid . Their grumpy sister (Tota Alba) , also an old maid , dominates them . Meanwhile , a musical orchestra whose singers leaders are Fernando (Vicente Parra) and Pepe (Luis Marín) , called ¨Los Guacamayos¨ plays at the village saloon old music for the villagers . There stands out a bombshell named Angelines (Sara Lezana) who wanna be a singer in Madrid and dances between the gossiping people . One night , Paquita hears her sibling tell somebody about her intention to sell all the family wealth . Once the money is gathered , she wants to travel to Paris with a strange person and get rid of her brother and sister . Paquita and Venancio are horrified about it and things get worse ..

Splendid movie that mingles black comedy , drama , rural conventionality , social habits and suspense . This is a piece of absurdity and nonsense , full of mysterious intrigue , thriller and ¨noir¨ happenings . The dramatic narrative is developed by means of flashbacks when at the end is uncovered the weird deeds . This is not the typical comedy by that time , here there is a brief social denounce about the repression during Franco dictatorship . As all the villagers are repressed characters , coerced by social conventionalism and hypocrisy . The original title ¨The crime of Mazarrón", was eliminated , that's why the explicit mention to the small town where the real killing was committed . Premiered 8 years later its shooting and in second class theatres ; the picture is nowadays a real ¨Cult Movie¨ . The best parts of the flick result to be the enjoyable descriptions of the villagers with colorful characters , including the ordinary roles : the priest , Mayor , pharmaceutic , the gossip people , the old men playing cards .... The picture has some unforgettable scenes as when it happens the special dance with earphones between Fernando and Ignacia , , the dressing parade carried out by Fernando and the surprising final images taken from ¨El Tonel de Amontillado¨ or ¨The Cask of Amontillado¨ by Edgar Allan Poe . The magnificent cast gives magnificent acting , such as : Tota Alba as the bossy eldest sister Ignacia , Vicente Parra as the musician who becomes involved with dark romances , Lina Canalejas as his virginal girlfriend and special mention for the two childish brothers : Jesus Franco and Rafaela Aparicio who steal the show playing their peculiar roles . Furthermore , other actors interpreting villagers , such as the shopkeeper María Luisa Ponte , Luis Marín , Joaquín Roa , Xan Das Bolas , Ramón Lillo and the gorgeous Sara Lezana .

Thrilling and suspenseful score by Cristobal Halffter , adding fragments from Huésped Del Sevillano by Guerrero and Canción Del Olvido by Serrano . Atmospheric and evocative cinematography by Jose F. Aguayo . Being voted seventh best Spanish film by professionals and critics in 1996 Spanish cinema centenary . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Fernando Fernández Gómez . This prolific and prestigious actor also directed a few films , such as : ¨Lazaro De Tormes , ¨Fuera De Juego ¨, ¨Mambrú Se Fue a La Guerra¨ , ¨5 Tenedores¨ , ¨5.000 Dias Juntos¨ , ¨Ninette¨ , ¨Venganza De Don Mendo¨ and his greatest success ¨Viaje a Ninguna Parte¨