Navajeros

I recently watched the Eloy de la Iglesia classic from Spain 🇪🇸, Navajeros (1980), on Shudder. The storyline follows a group of Spanish teens in Madrid who survive on the streets by stealing and living a life of crime. The leader of the gang, Jaro, meets a prostitute who loves him and wants him to settle down and live up to his potential. But can Jaro be tamed, or is he destined for the streets?

This film is directed by Eloy de la Iglesia (El pico 1 & 2), and stars José Luis Manzano (El pico 1 & 2), Isela Vega (Barbarosa), Enrique San Francisco (Birdboy: The Forgotten Children), and María Martín (A Candidate for a Killing).

I always enjoy Eloy de la Iglesia's street life and drug-related movies. These are underrated grindhouse cult classics. The acting is top-notch and authentic, and there are some beautiful ladies with plenty of nudity. The flow of the story is unique, blending street fights, gang activity, drug dealing, robbery, and sex. There's a hilarious monkey scene, a fun park fight, and a butt stab that had me laughing. The creativity in the fight sequences is impressive, and the ending is magnificent and very well done.

In conclusion, Navajeros is an elite street culture film that's an absolute must-see. I would score this an 8/10.

Maybe De La Iglesia was not the best director of his generation, he wasn't neither the most technical nor the most elegant , but he dared to portray a certain time in the history of Spain that was not easy at all. Heroin, small time thieves, delinquency...

Time has had no mercy with movies such as "Navajeros", everything looks out of date, but it's a nice document of the situation of this country. Now everybody thinks that Spain is so modern and so free, but the story that De La Iglesia told in this movie occurred less than 30 years ago...

*My rate: 6/10

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The Pirri is the best of the film, you now what im say? The pirri is a god actor

I really enjoyed this time capsule. The story is pretty straight forward and has several different themes but what fascinates me is the political relevance it has to today's social issues. Kind of sad but never misses beat. Keeps your attention all through.

A great look at the juvenile delinquents in Madrid,based on fact. El Jaro, a 15 year old famous delinquent and leader of his gang will do anything to survive and protect his respect and freedom.Growing tough with his knife he will fight to keep his liberty and live to see another day.Its like watching an urban comic book.Very entertaining. Straight from the heart of the streets.