Juanjo Puigcorbe Movies

A taxi driver and a failed actor accept an underworld job that could make them rich in this madcap crime comedy from director Antonio del Real. Down-on-his-luck Augusto drives a cab for a living, and his best friend, Julio, just can't seem to land any good roles. When a local crime kingpin offers the pair one million euros to execute a daring crime, Augusto and Julio eagerly accept. With Augusto's senile father-in-law, a beautiful hooker, and the girl of Julio's dreams along for the ride, Augusto and Julio must carry out their mission before a vengeful group of local drug dealers catchs wind of the plan and puts the pair out of business permanently. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

40 Years Without Sex, this non-narrative, skit-based satirical film's title in English, refers to the rather extreme moralism of the Franco era (1939-1976) in Spain during which, at least as far as public notice of it went, there was "no sex." In one episode, boys masturbate under the sheets while away at camp. In another, a woman is raped by a German sheep dog. In yet another, a particularly outspoken Falangist has a son who is unmistakably homosexual. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Throughout this low-brow semi-comedy, a group of Spanish military inductees regale each other with jokes, indulge in juvenile cameraderie, and generally pass the time away as only the energized young can, voluntarily locked up in a freight car on the train that is taking them to boot camp. While they are busy entertaining themselves in various ways, a fellow recruit who missed the train is chasing it (unsuccessfully) in a taxi, accompanied by his girlfriend. By the end of the train ride, after much commentary on military service and other relevant or not-so-relevant topics, the contrite recruits will have to emerge and face the music. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

This entertaining comedy is set in 1938 during the Spanish Civil War when a group of Republican soldiers sneak into a village in enemy territory to steal a bull with plans of butchering it to feed themselves. Fate and the bull itself, however, have other plans. One of the surreptitious bull-snatchers knows the village well -- he grew up there, but that advantage alone cannot guarantee their success, as it turns out. The group of five would-be thieves dress themselves in uniforms of the Nationalist troops in an attempt to dissimulate their true identity. But instead of a neat getaway with a bull in tow, they are caught up in the "correo" or running of the bull, they get involved in a religious procession, and in the end, watch as the bull breaks out of a flimsy ring in a bullfight and heads for the hills. Still hungry, the group of men now have to worry about getting back to their own battalion before they are found out. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

In this comedy from Spain, Carmen (Carmen Maura) is a woman in her early 40s who is nearing the end of her rope juggling a career as a reporter, taking care of her two children, minding the house, and dealing with a husband (her third) who thinks that she doesn't pay enough attention to him, and doesn't mind telling her so. The myriad pressures lead Carmen to consider a divorce, but eventually help comes along, though hardly in the form she expected. The cast also includes Antonio Resines, Juanajo Puigcorbe, and Carmen Conesa. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Ana Luz's husband has gone away for a little while. While he's away, she experiences every possible irruption into her house, from a troupe of actors to a woman claiming to be her husband's lover. She seems to kill a plumber with her screwdriver, and her neighbor apparently kills a policeman. Just when she "wakes up" and decides she may be dreaming, it begins to seem as though she isn't, in this directionless would-be comedy. Many aspire to avant-garde and radical humor, including the seasoned pros who made this film, but even hardened reviewers were embarrassed for the makers of this movie. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Lady M (Myriam Mezieres) sings in some of the less well-known Paris clubs. She's a gifted performer and is quite beautiful, but her work is not the sort that invites popular acclaim. Despite the fact that she is unlikely to become famous, she enjoys her life as a performer who lives just outside the mainstream. Awaiting her backstage one evening is a Spanish painter who has seen her show and wants to make her acquaintance. They walk around Paris getting to know one another, and then the painter returns to Spain. Something about the man has moved Lady M to passion: she flies to meet him in Barcelona and he shows her his beloved Catalonia. This time, however, their relationship is as much about passionate lovemaking as it is about compatibility. So smitten is Lady M with her new man that when she discovers that the painter has a negro wife and child, she is only a little bit taken aback; she invites his whole family to join her in Paris. Surprisingly, they do, and the number of people sharing their love and sexual appetites changes from two to three. This story is allegedly based on the personal diaries of Myriam Mezieres, who narrates. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

There are many minor occupations in the bullfighting profession aside from the one most people focus on. In this black comedy, Justino (Saturnino Garcia) is a sixty-two year old retired puntillero who lives a carefree life, hanging out at the local bar with his cronies while living with his married son. As a puntillero, his responsibility was to deliver the death-killing blow to bulls in the bullring if the matador failed to do so. One day his son and daughter-in-law irritate him for some reason and he finishes them off the same way and then stores their bodies in the apartment's freezer. After that, just about anyone who irritates him in any way is likely to die, from the policemen who didn't believe him when he confessed to them about killing his son, to a whole houseful of elderly people in an old-age home. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

In this Spanish-French drama, a Turkish diplomat in Soviet Georgia during 1932 attempts to solve the mysterious death of his predecessor. It is based on the book by Belgian author Georges Simenon. Adil Bey has just been assigned to replace the recently deceased consul at Batum, a town on the Black Sea. From his office he can peer into the apartment of a security policeman. Living with him are his wife and pretty sister Sonia who was both secretary and mistress of the previous Turkish consul. Soon Adil finds himself wanting Sonia. Later he begins to fear that he is being slowly poisoned, much in the same way, that the other consul might have died. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi