Pepon Nieto Movies

A well-to-do Spanish attorney finds himself in hot water after falling for a shady Bulgarian man in the 2002 comedy-drama, Los novios bulgaros (Bulgarian Lovers). Middle-aged Madrid native Daniel (Fernando Guillen Cuervo, who also helped adapt the script) lives a life of relative comfort and is generally pretty happy with how things have been going for him lately. His one guilty pleasure is frequenting the city's gay quarter looking for men to pick up for an evening of reckless abandon. One night, Daniel meets Bulgarian Kyril (Dritan Biba) and is quickly smitten beyond all hope of reason. Finding out that Kyril is essentially homeless and penny-less, Daniel nonetheless gets him into bed--after buying him dinner--even after Kyril confesses to having a fiancee back in Bulgaria. As Daniel falls deeper in love with Kyril, Kyril takes advantage of the situation by convincing the lawyer to complete various tasks for him, which range from the morally questionable to the highly illegal and dangerous. A more than willing stooge to Kyril's demands--and all too aware of his situation--Daniel resigns himself to following this relationship through to the end, wherever it may lead. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi

A close circle of friends and relatives become involved in a complicated game of musical beds in a spicy satirical comedy for adults. Angel (Sergi Lopez) is married to Ana (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon), but while he stays with her for the sake of their four children, he hasn't been very happy in their relationship for some time, and is often unfaithful to his wife. Angel's brother, Hermano (Pepon Nieto), has just the opposite problem; his wife seems to have lost interest in him, and he discovers she's been having an affair with his boss. As Hermano tries to hold on to what's left of his pride, Ana becomes convinced Angel has been unfaithful to her, and in order to test her husband, she convinces her friend Amiga (Maria Esteve) to try and seduce Angel. The plan works a bit too well, and Amiga ends up sleeping with Angel. Ana tries to convince herself that this shouldn't affect her friendship with Amiga, but to spite her husband, she begins having an affair with Hermano -- something she keeps a secret from her husband until she finds him in flagrante delicto with his secretary. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Writer-directors Felix Sabroso and Dunia Ayaso made this Spanish comedy-drama with an "inside television" angle. TV host Miranda Vega (Maria Conchita Alonso) heads a variety talk-show format. Confronted with plummeting ratings, she is forced to try a different approach that brings singing hookers, drug addicts, and other no-talents into the studio. Miranda feuds with lesbian actress Marta Pena (Loles Leon), prompting Marta's companion Soraya (Malena Gustierrez), a "karate artiste," to participate in the variety show. Chaos reigns when the show goes on the air live. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Done in the riotous manner of a Pedro Almodovar comedy, this Spanish outing is largely set in the spacious apartment living room of three gay roommates: the pudgy, glasses-wearing Carlos, pothead/quasi-philosopher Toni and the ever smooth but diminutive Dani. The trouble begins when Toni decides that the trio needs another roommate. The first to appear is the devastatingly handsome Lucas, who looks just like Mel Gibson. The boys eagerly take him in and each of them can't help but fall in love with the dashing charmer. This creates considerable tension until the day Lucas is found dead in their kitchen with seven knives protruding from his body. Thinking quickly, they have their housemaid call the police and fabricate an outlandish excuse. Two cops show up and that is when the fun really begins. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Veteran director Manuel Gutierrez Aragon provided a portrait of Cubans in Spain with this Spanish film, a winner of the Silver Spike at the 1997 Valladolid Film Festival. Three sisters -- aspiring actress Nena (Violeta Rodriguez), timid Ludmila (Broselianda Hernandez), and motherly Rosa (Isabel Santos) -- travel from Havana to Madrid to stay with their aunt Maria (Daisy Granados). Aboard the same plane is Barbaro (Luis Alberto Garcia), who stays with penniless but streetwise Igor (Jorge Perugorria), a man who thinks sleeping with Spanish women is the route to upward mobility. The impoverished Igor also creates forged passports to help others depart for Miami. The three girls move in with Maria, who lives downstairs from her friend Azucena (Kiti Manver). Minus papers, the trio is employed at Maria's fur shop. Matchmaker Maria brings Rosa together with awkward Javier (Pepon Nieto), but Javier goes for Nena instead. So does Igor after he spots Nena in a Cubano bar. Igor sleeps that night at Azucena's place, and the proximity to the sisters during the long night's journey into day makes a commotion and fracas almost a certainty. The film's music blends rumba, bolero, and tango. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Imanol Uribe's Dias Contados recieved widespread critical acclaim for its compassionate but unsentimental, multi-layed analysis of the tumultuous relationship between a Basque terrorist assigned to bomb a Madrid police station and the neighboring prostitute with whom he falls in love. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi