Yo soy la Juani

Did I just watch the movie too stoned or was I the only one here who noticed the brilliance of Luna's collage narration excitingly wrapped around the "typical plot"? But the stereotypes and the plot cliches that bother you are so real and brought to us intensely, with the fullness of youth energy, and soundtrack that follows it. For example, I really like the crazy transitions from one scene to another (dance floor - guys chasing them on the street, for example), and the pop-techno quality of dream/imagination sequences. It's like...the perfect pop!

Previously I'd only seen a couple of Bigas Luna's movies. His "Yo soy la Juani" ("My Name Is Juani" in English) was his second-to-last movie, focusing on a girl and her friend who leave their dismal existence and loser boyfriends in a small town and head to the big city to find their fortune. This is one movie that truly evokes its era, with a pulse-pounding soundtrack and a couple of fast montages. No shortage of sex, either.

I wouldn't call this Bigas's best movie that I've seen; I thought "Jamón jamón" and "Golden Balls" were more profound in dealing with gender issues in Spain. Even so, it's a brisk look at Spain's youth in the aughts and gives one a sense of the culture. So far, every Bigas movie that I've seen has been worth checking out.

PS: Bigas Luna's full name is José Bigas Luna, so he should get listed under Bigas per the Spanish naming system.

Commercial and big box-office Spanish film upon a pair of women leave their small town and dud sweethearts behind for fun in Madrid . Juani (Verónica Echegui) comes from a very poor background , having grown up in a poor suburban village of Spain from little town outskirts . She has problems at home and argues incessantly with her boyfriend (Diego Martin) who cheats her and with whom she has been since she was 15 . Soon his infidelity with the abusive relationship she has with her boyfriend and overall uselessness , as well as the limitations of her poor and small town, become unbearable for Juani and she along with her best friend (Laya Martí) decide to go the big city , Madrid . At first the big city, a complete opposite of their hometown, couldn't seem to be a better place for their teenager expectations of life . In a visit home Juani almost decides she will not return to Madrid , and will instead come back to old relationships and live again in her parents' house . She expresses these sentiments to her mother who tells her that she loves Juani's father (Jose Chaves) , but always asks herself what her life would have been like had she left , like Juani . After speaking to her mother (Mercedes Hoyos) Juani realizes that she can not give up though she has less Naïve expectations , hoping to escape her ex-sweetheart and the future she would have were she to stay in her town . But she goes on her dream because ¨La Juani is the best¨ , in spite of her way is full of flops and disillusionments.

Entertaining and modern picture about a young girl called Juani who along with her best friend leave for Madrid in search of a better life . First part of Bigas Luna's Trilogy about ambition followed by ¨Di Di Hollywood¨ with Elsa Pataky in a similar role . This stirring as well as erotic story is a passionate retelling and moving tale about wishes , lies and disappointments , but including strong sex scenes with loads of nudism . This is a moving tale about ambition , luxury , desire in which a mean young attempts to build her ambitious future : to be a Hollywood actress . The storyline relies heavily on the continued ambition of the starring , including a lot of sexual scenes , almost soft-core , but it doesn't make boring , however the film is fun . As usual in Bigas Luna films , ¨Yo Soy La Juani¨ explores the darkest depths of eroticism and stereotypical Spanish machismo represented on the character played by Diego Martin . The moral of the story becomes clear : never forget what you set out to get, despite the struggles that come your way, and never give up on your dreams . Nice acting by Verónica Echegui as an obstinate young whose naïve dreams are soon shattered by the ruthlessness of their dream city , Madrid , where she has been having a hard time . She won Sant Jordi Awards Best Spanish Actress ; Spanish Actors Union Newcomer Award Female ; and Nominated Goya Awards Best New Actress . Furthermore, the movie packs a colorful cinematography by Albert Pascual, shot in Tarragona , Reus , Torredembarra and Madrid . Atmospheric musical score filled with rap and several songs from Mala Rodríguez , Facto Delage , Placebo , Haze , Hanna and many others .

The motion picture was decently directed by Bigas Luna , following his particular style. He often uses in his films twisted events , erotic scenes and surrealist images. . He was a Bon Vivant who along with his wife, produced wine, ham, and organic products ; they are well shown in his films . In 1990 the producer Andrés Vicente Gómez persuaded him to return to cinema and entrusted to him the direction of Las Edades De Lulú (The Ages of Lulu), an erotic drama about a young woman exploring extreme sexual practices , this was a commercial success . Without abandoning his dedication to painting and photography, reflected in numerous exhibitions, he began the well-known "Iberian Trilogy" with Jamón Jamón ("Ham, Ham", 1992), Huevos de Oro ("Golden Balls", 1993) and La Teta y La Luna ("The Tit and the Moon", 1994). Jamón Jamón, which launched the careers of both Javier Bardem and the 16-year-old Penélope Cruz was a major international success and won the Silver Lion at Venice in 1992. Cruz returned in Volavérunt (1999), a film about the relationship between Francisco Goya and the Duchess of Alba . This film ¨Yo Soy La Juani¨ is stylishly photographed and smartly designed and here Bigas Luna delivers his ordinary and erotic goods in cool sense of style .

I like the accuracy of this film, the plot is not completely fresh or inventive but the portrayal of life in 2006 as a Spanish youth is. Some films transcend time, sometimes time transcends a film. "Yo Soy La Juani" reminds me of "Valley of the Dolls," I have no idea what it was like to be alive in 1968 but after "Valley of the Dolls" I was able to peer at life then through the voice of the film and the fashion/aesthetics of the set. Though the rawness and honesty in this film are not very shocking in 2010, this film is reminiscent of the 1995 film "Kids." You get to see what young kids do and the issues they are forced to deal with. If you're looking for a life changing experience this movie is not for you, however, if you want a glimpse into what it's like to be in your early twenties in this part of the world, this movie is great.

This film is actually quite bad. Perhaps the only thing I would save it's the OST.. and also I have to say that some things are not easy to understand if u don't know a bit of the ambient where it was actually filmed. I mean, being Spanish helps for that, and of course I guess there is no translation but for the subtitles but.. To sum up, do not waiste your time or money guys. The story is nothing new, this girl discovers the boyfriend cheating on her so she decides to move with her best friend to the big city, where, I have to say, things are not always like they pretend in the film. Actually nothing really happens in there, I mean, there is no exciting story at all . Regarding the actors, the guy is well known in Spain as he is leading a pop band extremely popular with teenagers, and she is a complete unknown-