Lola Gaos Movies
- 1985
- R
Leaving a lot of paths started but untrodden, this routine drama about a man fighting the system and losing flips back and forth between prison scenes, bank scenes, and what appears to be an incompetent Spanish court system. Cesar (Patxi Bisquert) is an up-and-coming banker, a champion of liberal causes, and a conscientious objector -- all rolled into one. After he discovers some irregularities in the bank's accounts, he tries to blow the whistle, but that only lands him in prison on the charge of forging a check. From that moment onward, things only seem to get worse. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Pepa Flores, Patxi Bisquert, (more)
- 1981
The story of Sister Patrocinio, the "Nun of the Wounds" is told in a series of flashbacks to life in Madrid in the 1830s, when she lived. The government had just changed over into the more liberal hands of Mendizabal, and Sister Patrocinio was so worried about the broad-minded attitudes of the times that she surrepticiously inflicted wounds on herself like those Christ had suffered, implying there was some sort of miracle at work to get the people believing as they should once again. The deceptive Sister is played by a former Miss Spain, Amparo Munoz, who it is assumed, would be worth looking at wounded or not. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Amparo Muñoz, Fernando Rey, (more)
- 1978
Deeply layered with much symbolic and allegorical material, the generally non-narrative events in this film revolve around Ana (Ana Belen) a girl who has been diagnosed with a terminal case of cancer. In one scene, she is injured in a Madrid Public library when a police horse crashes through a plate glass window. The police have just been violently dealing with protestors who are objecting to the state's handling of the trials of six men accused of involvement in the death of a policeman. In another scene, a man claims he can cure her of cancer, but she must turn her mind over to him. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ana Belén, Norman Brisky, (more)
- 1977
After serving her male boss for many years, decades even, the maid in this story is understandably a little jealous of his young wife. In fact, however, she is hopelessly in love with her employer, and is madly jealous of his bride. The young wife is a duplicitous sort, given to the odd affair, and not above pulling the wool over her adoring and somewhat simple older husband. However, the family maid is not so easily fooled, and before long the young woman finds herself in a very unenviable situation. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- 1975
In this complex drama, a drifter brings his new girlfriend home for a visit. The girl's real flame is an escaped convict, who looks her up. Before she can leave with her convict lover, the drifter's mother kills her. Even though the mother had an incestuous relationship with her son, the son is determined to kill his mother, believing that she killed his one true love. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ovidi Montllor
- 1972
We can find predecessors of the Spanish Marianela dating back to the dawn of cinema (take a look at D.W. Griffith's Blind Love, vintage 1910). But there's no such thing as an old story if it's done with finesse. Rodio Ducal plays a disfigured young woman who falls in love with blind Pierre Orcel. Theirs is an idyllic relationship-until word comes down that an operation may restore Orcel's sight. In many respects, Marianela can be seen as a worthy precursor to the better-known Hollywood production Mask (1985). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This bloody Spanish horror film mines the same vein (no pun intended) as Hammer's Countess Dracula (even released the same year), taking as its source the allegedly true tale of the Hungarian Countess Bathory -- who believed she could maintain eternal youth by routinely bathing in the blood of slain virgins. In an attempt to seduce and marry a charming young soldier, she is compelled to murder young maids again and again, while masquerading as her own teenage daughter. Unfortunately, she finds that she needs more frequent applications of this ghastly beauty treatment in order to prevent herself from transforming into a withered old hag -- naturally, both her plans and her body end up falling to pieces. Written and directed by Jorge Grau, who would later find more success with the equally-imitative but genuinely eerie zombie-fest Don't Open the Window. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- 1971
This strange film takes the story of a Spanish country matron into new ground. Adela (Jose Luis Lopes Vasquez) lives a conservative life in her village with her maid. When she scolds her maid for having an affair, the indignant maid runs off to Madrid. Adela receives the courtship of a local businessman, but, after accepting his engagement ring, she is disgusted by his further advances. Disturbed by this, she follows her priest's advice to seek psychiatric help. The psychiatrist, a doctor, tells her that she is, in fact, a man. Adela, horrified, cannot bear to return to her village and takes up life in Madrid as Juan. Her identification papers list her as a woman, and she must improvise in order to survive. There is a lot more to this odd story, made odder still because it is not a comedy, but a romantic drama. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
Luis Buñuel's Tristana is a surreal criticism of Catholicism and the modern world, told through the story of the title character, who is portrayed by Catherine Deneuve. Tristana is a young Spanish woman left to the care of Don Lope (Fernando Rey), the protective but impoverished aristocrat. Don sells his possessions to avoid manual labor and champions the causes of the dispossessed and downtrodden of society. He takes advantage of the vulnerable Tristana, who leaves him when she falls in love with Horacio (Franco Nero). Unable to commit to him, she returns to Don Lope when she falls ill. He asks for her hand in marriage, and she accepts after losing her leg to cancer. She chooses to remain in a passionless union rather than be subject to the harsh realities of a society that refuses to change to the needs of women. Taken from the novel by celebrated author Benito Perez Galdos, the film -- wherein director Buñuel takes his usual jabs at religion and politics -- is a tribute to the author on the 50th anniversary of his death. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Catherine Deneuve, Fernando Rey, (more)
- 1968
In this spaghetti western, based on the Marvin H. Albert novel The Bounty Killer, a bounty hunter swears he will bring in a notorious Mexican outlaw. The outlaw is captured, but then, with the help of a pretty lady, escapes and goes to his hometown. There he enlists the aid of the locals and gets his old gang back together. The bounty hunter eventually catches up, but he is immediately captured and tortured by the outlaw who then robs and kills a few of the hapless townsfolk. This causes the woman to reconsider her actions. She frees the bounty hunter, and a violent shoot-out ensues. In the end, all of the bad-guys are slain, and the bounty hunter finds himself a rich man. There are no likeable or heroic characters in this film that is unfortunately marred by poor English-language dubbing. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Wyler, Tomas Milian, (more)
- 1966
Manuel Jacques Perrin is a young man from the country who tries to make it in Madrid in this somber melodrama. He struggles to survive in the unforgiving city where only the strongest will prosper. Manuel defends himself and kills a murderous thief in a fight then quietly waits for the police to reach the scene of the crime. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- 1965
The business of death provides the framework for this black comedy about a mortician's assistant who wants to marry an executioner's daughter. Her father really wants to change professions, but cannot, as he will lose his new government-sponsored apartment. The young man is persuaded to take over the job, but he swears he will quit before he must kill someone. Unfortunately, an execution is scheduled shortly before the beginning of a major carnival, a time when many executions are halted. The bride and groom travel there, hoping the victim will be pardoned, but he is not and the groom must fulfill his duty. Although he swears he will never do another, his face tells another story, and the old executioner knows that many more state-sanctioned deaths will follow. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Nino Manfredi, Emma Penella, (more)
In this low-budget horror movie, Greek treasure hunters discover a nest of prehistoric eggs. They break an egg and accidentally release a deadly, invisible force that begins noisily shredding all humans in its path. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Philbrook, Arturo Fernandez, (more)
- 1962
The four "truths" are in this instance, four different romantic or dramatic vignettes in a slightly uneven compilation film. All four segments are loosely related to fables by the 17th-century French poet Jean de la Fontaine. In the first fable "Death and the Woodcutter" directed by Luis Berlanga, a well-adjusted, normal organ grinder runs up against the obstacles of torpidity and bureaucracy combined, driving him to the brink of despair. In the second story "The Crow and the Fox" directed by Hervé Bromberger, an insecure husband keeps his beautiful wife locked up, though an amorous neighbor is determined to outsmart him and get to her. In the third fable "The Tortoise and the Hare" directed by Allesandro Blasetti, a wife is unwilling to share her husband with a mistress. In the last fable "Two Pigeons" by René Clair, a fashion model (Leslie Caron) and a lowly worker (Charles Aznavour) are thrown together by unexpected circumstances. The American release of this film cut the first segment, reducing the fable parodies to three. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charles Aznavour, Leslie Caron, (more)
After 25 years' exile, Luis Buñuel was invited to his native Spain to direct Viridiana -- only to have the Spanish government suppress the film on the grounds of blasphemy and obscenity. Regarded by many as Buñuel's crowning achievement, the film centers on an idealistic young nun named Viridiana (Silvia Pinal). Just before taking her final vows, Viridiana is forced by her mother superior to visit her wealthy uncle Don Jaime (Fernando Rey), who has "selflessly" provided for the girl over the years. She has always considered Don Jaime an unspeakable beast, so she is surprised when he graciously welcomes her into his home. Just as graciously, he sets about to corrupt Viridiana beyond redemption -- all because the girl resembles his late wife. It is always hard to select the most outrageous scene in any Buñuel film; our candidate in Viridiana is the devastating Last Supper tableau consisting of beggars, thieves, and degenerates. As joltingly brilliant today as on its first release, Viridiana won the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Silvia Pinal, Fernando Rey, (more)
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