El curso en que amamos a Kim Novak

¨El curso en que amamos a Kim Novak(1980)¨ or "The course in which we love Kim Novak" is a nostalgic and sentimental comedy/drama dealing with University students during Francoist period. At the end of the 50s , a young student falls in love with the film actress Kim Novak and fills the walls of her room with photographs of her. One day, he meets a girl at a party who looks a lot like her, but is so shy that he needs to get drunk to declare his love for her. This is a sympathetic and agreeable film depicting the love affairs and teachings received the students for the dictatorship time. It is narrated by a voice in off by starring himself , Miguel Ayones . Concerning two students Nicolás (Miguel Ayones) and Gonzalo (Miguel Arribas) , as the latter is a naughty , lousy student . And another student Lorenzo (Antonio Gamero) enjoys carrying out antics, jokes and frolics . As Gonzalo is a rogue and bad student who only thinks about flirting and making love with pretty girls , while Nicolás is more serious and religious than his roommate . At first they fall in love with two formal girls (Kitty Manver, Beatriz Elorrieta) , but Gonzalo eventually falls in love with the liberal Cristina (Cecilia Roth), while Nicolás falls enchanted by a beauty (Roxanne Bach) who walks mysteriously through the streets of Salamanca and she bears resemblance to his beloved Kim Novak .

Attractive and likeable comedy set in the Fifties providing a sour and ironical critic to the social habits, repression and Catholic religion ; adding an enjoyable homage to Kim Novak and her films as ¨Vertigo , de entre los muertos¨ and ¨Picnic¨ and also paying tribute to William Holden in movies as ¨Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing¨ and ¨Picnic¨that co-starred with Novak . My expectations were turned off to a few ashes despite having stoked them these years when I remembered the attractive title ¨El Curso que amamos a Kim Novak¨, that's why the film results to be a simple dramedy about love problems on college youngsters and with no too much interest. I think that more benefit could have been obtained from the nostalgia of the good student days in Salamanca but in my opinion, it has remained a failed attempt . I only liked that girl -gorgeous Roxanne Bach- who looked like Kim Novak and who suddenly appeared - like Vertigo- , from time to time kicking the streets of Salamanca . Seeing her frozen in that final shot alone has made it worth watching the film. The cast is acceptable with some familiar faces giving charming interpretations, such as : Miguel Ayones , Miguel Arribas , Beatriz Elorrieta , Antonio Gamero and only two actresses developed a fruitful and successful career : Kiti Mánver and Cecilia Roth .

It displays an atmospheric and sensitive musical score with plenty of the nostalgic songs from the popular and ¨Duo Dinamico¨. As well as evocative and adequate cinematography by Miguel Milá . Shot on location in Salamanca ,Castilla y León . The motion picture was middlingly and professionally directed by Juan Jose Porto. He was a screenwriter and director, in fact he wrote various Paul Naschy films and made some movies with penchant for nostalgic comedies as Ultimo Guateque I and Ultimo Guatague II, Cronicas Bromuro, Curso Amamos a Kim Novak, among others. Rating : average , 5.5/10. Passable and acceptable.