Jose Sancho Movies

A visit with a movie mogul becomes an emotional psychodrama in this independent drama from Spain. Rosendo (Carlos Bardem) is a gifted novelist who has sold the film rights to one of his books to producer Fernando (Javier Gurruchaga). Fernando wants to discuss the project with Rosendo, so the writer arrives for a meeting at the producer's office, which is also attended by Mikel (Jose Sancho), the director on the film; Andrea (Beatriz Rico), an actress who is dating Mikel; and Beatriz (Isabel de Toro), Fernando's lover. What starts as a business meeting becomes increasingly emotional as each of the participants begin revealing different sides of their personalities, while some use the confrontational tone of the conversation as a way of rooting out issues and differences among their colleagues and loved ones. Written and directed by Juan Pinzas, El Desenlace (aka The Outcome) was shot and edited within the guidelines of the austere Dogme 95 movement. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The story of the birth of Christ is given a new spin in this family-friendly animated adventure. In the ancient city of Judea, three men are commanded by an unknown voice to follow the North Star in search of a treasure that will be bestowed on a great king, who is soon to be born. Chubby and good-natured Melchor, strong and stalwart Baltasar, and bright and dependable Gaspar all answer the call and set out on their journey; however, the wicked Herod, ruler of Judea, hears of their mission and is determined to stop it with the help of Belial, his second-in-command. Herod and Belial use both practical and magical defenses against the three travelers, but they remain undeterred in their quest, somehow certain something very important lies at the end of their journey. Produced by Spanish and French companies, Los Reyes Magos (aka The Three Wise Men) also features a modern-day framing story in which a troubled youth learns the importance of the nativity story. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

An international party of astronauts crash lands on Mars. Bummer. Since rescue is, oh, 26 months away, and they only have air, food, and water for a few days, the astronauts must come to grips with the idea of dying slow and painful deaths. The captain (María Lidón) and two others explore the planet, only to make an awesome discovery. Meanwhile, Baglioni (Vincent Gallo) tries to convince the very-Catholic Jenny (Maria de Medeiros) to have sex before dying. ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi

A man finds he's still a stranger in a nation where he's lived for half a decade in this tense drama. Mario (Ernesto Alterio), born and raised in Spain, has spent five years living in Morocco overseeing a business for his father Victor (Adolfo Fernandez), with whom he has a contentious relationship. Shorty before he is scheduled to come home, Mario is asked by Victor to look in on his half-sister Laura (Elena Ballesteros), who is traveling through Morocco. Having had little contact with Laura, Mario is surprised when she turns out to be a lovely young woman with a provocative manner. After spending an evening with her, Mario accidentally kills a sheep while driving back to his flat, which raises the ire of the locals, and the next day Laura disappears while shopping at the kasbah. Mario thinks the sheep's owner may be responsible, but when he approaches the man about Laura's whereabouts, a fight breaks out, and Mario is arrested. The police accuse Mario of murdering Laura, and Victor retains the services of a hired gun, Rodrigo (Jose Sancho. Mario needs to find Laura quickly, and Brahim (Mehdi Ouazzani), who lives in town, offers to track her down on the condition that Mario then escort him to his family in the southern part of the country. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A dark, noir-styled thriller with flashes of edgy wit, Los Lobos de Washington looks at a pair of low-level hoods who unknowingly betray each other on the way to a big score. Miguel (Eduardo Fernandez) and Alberto (Javier Bardem) both used to work for Claudio (Jose Sancho), a car dealer notoriously tight with his money. Alberto is a soft-hearted slob who, since his recent divorce, has been sharing his dumpy apartment with Pablo (Ernesto Alterio), a sad sack whom Alberto befriended when he found him lost on the subway. Miguel, on the other hand, has a way with words and has been using them on Alberto's ex, Sara (Maria Pujalte), even though she's in the hospital and Alberto still carries a torch for her. When Miguel and Alberto discover that Claudio needs someone to help him launder 20 million pesetas, they offer to help him out, with the intention of pocketing a large chunk of the cash. Claudio gives the pair the money, and they hit the road, but to Alberto's surprise Miguel kicks him out of the car, intending to pick up Sara and run off. Alberto immediately calls Claudio to tell him what happened before heading to the hospital to visit Sara. Soon Miguel and Alberto are both in for a surprise -- Claudio has kidnapped Sara and is holding her hostage to insure he gets his 20 million pesetas back. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Aguirre (Omero Antonutti) leads 300 Spanish soldiers and 300 natives in his search for the legendary land of El Dorado in Peru during the year 1560. The expedition is attacked by hostile jungle tribes before mutiny breaks out among the soldiers. The unit is forced to kill and eat their horses to survive, but the leaders of the expedition are also targeted for assassination. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Reactions to this political drama with a rightist slant will depend on the viewer's own politics. Late director Rafael Gil begins with an ingenious premise. A novice reporter mistakes the news that the French franc (franco in Spanish) has resuscitated for the news that dead fascist dictator, Francisco Franco has come back from the grave. Buried for three years now, this is not likely but it sets off a series of extreme reactions in many sectors of society. At the same time there is an old man who just might be the resuscitated dictator hitchhiking away from the cemetery that holds his tomb. As some leaders either run off or air out their fascist uniforms, bombs are exploded in the streets, bank robbers rob with impunity, and a group of villagers thinks that the army on maneuvers in their neighborhood is actually the fascist army returning in glory. Sooner or later, people will realize that Franco is truly dead, though fascism may not be as moribund. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi