Joan Crosas Movies

Folks are literally dying to make room in a desirable neighborhood in this black comedy from Spain. Madrid's once-decaying Chueca district has suddenly become fashionable with gay couples looking for flats in vintage-style buildings, and Victor (Pablo Puyol) is a real estate agent determined to make the most of the neighborhood's new profitability. However, a number of choice properties are currently home to elderly women who've lived there for decades and have no intention of moving. Victor isn't about to let a little thing like uncooperative tenants stop him from signing new leases with wealthy clients, and at night he becomes a bloodthirsty killer, murdering old ladies and renting out their now empty flats. One gay couple who've already been living in Chueca are Leo (Pepon Nieto), a driving instructor, and Rey (Carlos Fuentes), who is between jobs. Leo and Rey are flabby, middle-aged and not in step with Chueca's new image, which has already made them a target in Victor's eyes, but when Rey's harridan mother Antonia (Concha Velasco) moves into the building, their days could well be numbered. Chuecatown was the first theatrical feature from writer and director Juan Flahn. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Directed by veteran Spanish helmer Vicente Aranda, Carmen revolves around a complex cast of characters, including Merimee (Jay Benedict), a writer and archeologist whose research in southern Spain circa 1830 brings him into contact with Jose (Leonardo Sbaraglia), a bandit. When Merimee meets the beautiful Carmen (Paz Vega) in a cathedral, Jose bursts in and orders Merimee to leave unless he wanted to be killed. Eventually, Jose reveals how he had met Carmen -- breaking up a fight between her and a co-worker who believed her to be a witch, and subsequently letting her off the hook rather than taking her to prison. When they next met, Carmen was working as a prostitute, which made Jose jealous enough to murder one of her clients. Afterwards, he dedicated his entire life to being with her, not caring who he killed along the way. The film also features Antonio Dechent, Joan Crosas, and Joe Mackay. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide