A simple, and delightful film about a coming-of-age story . This comedy/drama contains a romantic love story , society customs , lively incidents and entertainment . It deals with an adolescent called Manuel (Liberto Rabal , Francisco Rabal's grandson) who wants to a be prestigious writer , but he has a strict catholic faith , spurred by a stiff reverend (Vicente Parra) . His higher-class daddy doesn't want him to become a writer and sends him to Valencia law school . The story entails a young student living in the big city of Valencia , there he befriends a peculiar group formed by Vidal (Luis Montes) , Luis (Villanueva) and the fat leader nicknamed El Bola (Jorge Merino) , who is usually posing as a governor's secretary . In Valencia Manuel discovers attractive places , becomes involved with prostitutes , sexy adventures and political activities . Manuel suffers of sexual desire and the tension that becomes to obvious to hide . One day Manuel sees his dream girl and falls in love for her and follows her on a trolley car to Malvarossa beach . He then studies in college , meets call girl named La China (Ariadna Gil) who teaches him love secrets , but still remembers that young woman . Manuel reads Albert Camus and Alfonso Sastre and then gets atheist thoughts , as he attempts to write a novel about a killer called El Semo (Antonio Resines) . Manuel , finally , falls for a beautiful French girl .
A light , wistful romantic comedy , easy to watch , and easier to love , being based on the autobiography of writer Manuel Vincent . The film is seen through the eyes an adult played by voice-in-off by the notorious actor Santiago Ramos . It is set in Franco dictatorship regime and is as beautifully filmed as it is written and acted . ¨Tranvía a Malvarrosa¨ is one of those rare gems that does not stray from its purpose to be a celebration of love and romance and an interesting tale of a young controlled by his libido and the religious repression from that reprieved period . It is a film set in a certain age (in this case: Spain during the times of the post-civil war), where the age itself is not very important , but it effects the way the story evolves . Regular and unbalanced , but gaining the sympathy almost at all times This film well shot by Jose Luis Garcia Sánchez had a fairly large budget in the case of Spanish cinema , being an acceptable comedy/drama seasoned with social habits of the fifties and sixties . This is one of his collaborations to prestigious screenwriter Rafael Azcona , initiated in ¨La Corte Del Faraón¨ . Main actors are pretty well . As well as an awesome support cast , interpreters who provided a considerable boost to the result , such as Vicente Parra as a stiff-upper-lip priest , Juan Luis Galiardo as a religious fanatic , Fernando Fernán Gómez as a teacher who gives masterful classes and engaging speeches , Antonio Resines as a murderous about to be executed by Garrote Vil . Special mention to Jorge Merino , he steals the show as a brothel fond young who teaches his friends the rogue things about life .
Atmospheric musical score by Antoine Duhamel , adding known songs adapted with roots in popular music of the fifties and the early sixties ; recreating the essence of the epoch with vintage songs , accompanying sensual melodies and lyrics . The picture is magnificently set in the Spanish Civil Post-war , in Valencia , during the most hard times of the general Franco dictatorship , being well photographed by notorious cameraman Jose Luis Alcaine . The pic offers a colorful and evocative cinematography by Jose Luis Alcaine who was first cinematographer to use fluorescent tube as "key" lightning and deemed to be one of the best Spanish cameramen . Alcaine frequently works with Pedro Almodóvar , Bigas Luna and Vicente Aranda , as he has photographed ¨The skin I live in¨ , ¨The bad education¨ , ¨Volver¨ , ¨Women in the verge of a nervous breakdown¨, among others . Here he shows splendidly the enjoyable exteriors from Valencia . The motion picture was professionally directed by Jose Luis Garcia Sánchez , though contains some flaws , gaps and mayhem . He is a notorious writer and director , being born in Salamanca, Castilla y León , where he usually shoots his films . Being father of the director Víctor García León . Sanchez is a noted writer and director, known for the great hits as ¨Belle Epoque¨ (1992), ¨Las Truchas¨ (1978) and ¨La Corte Del Faraón¨ (1985) . And specially known for writing : ¨Habla Mudita¨ and ¨Camada Negra¨ for Manuel Gutierrez Aragon , ¨and other films as ¨Corazon Solitario¨, ¨Furia Española¨ for filmmaker Francisco Betriu , and , of course , ¨Belle Epoque¨ (1992) for director Jose Luis Garci . His films debuts were a trilogy of comedies in politic trendy : ¨El Love Feroz¨, ¨Colorin Colorado¨ and ¨Las Truchas¨ (1978) , the latter won Golden Bear in Berlin Festival . He also directed a documentary : ¨Dolores¨ that pays tribute to communist Ibarruri . He subsequently collaborates with Rafael Azcona such as ¨Hay Deshacer La Casa¨, ¨Pasodoble¨, ¨El Vuelo De La Paloma¨ and ¨El Seductor¨ . And two rendition upon Ramon Valle Inclan's novels : ¨Divinas Palabras¨ (1985) , and ¨Tirano Banderas¨ , as well as a pair of farceur comedies ¨Suspiros De España¨ (1995) , and ¨Siempre Hay Camino a la Derecha¨ . Furthermore , two historical films ¨La Noche Mas Larga¨ and and Lazaro De Tormes (2001) .
