Eusebio Lazaro Movies
Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro returns to the phantasmagorical cinema that defined such early fare as Cronos and The Devil's Backbone with this haunting fantasy-drama set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War and detailing the strange journeys of an imaginative young girl who may be the mythical princess of an underground kingdom. Her mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil), recently remarried to sadistic army captain Vidal (Sergi López) and soon to bear the cruel military man's child, shy young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is forced to entertain herself as her recently-formed family settles into their new home nestled deep in the Spanish countryside. As Ofelia's bed-ridden mother lies immobilized in anticipation of her forthcoming child and her high-ranking stepfather remains determined to fulfill the orders of General Francisco Franco to crush a nearby guerilla uprising, the young girl soon ventures into an elaborate stone labyrinth presided over by the mythical faun Pan (Doug Jones). Convinced by Pan that she is the lost princess of legend and that in order to return to her underground home she must complete a trio of life-threatening tasks, Ofelia sets out to reclaim her kingdom and return to her grieving father as Vidal's housekeeper Mercedes (Maribel Verdú) and doctor (Alex Angulo) plot secretly on the surface to keep the revolution alive. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ariadna Gil, Ivana Baquero, (more)
- 1999
Veteran Spanish director Luis Garcia Berlanga created this anarchic black comedy about sexual impotence and millennial anxiety. Though a Paris-based plastic surgeon spends much of his time and wealth on prostitutes, he is plagued by impotence. Despondent, he plans to commit suicide. After happening upon a bike with "Paris-Timbuktu" painted on it, he decides to bike from France to Africa and kill himself there on New Year's Eve. But when his plans are thwarted in Spain by a painful boil on his bottom, he is forced to room with a pair of sisters in a remote village. Through them, he finds himself increasingly immersed in the local community, populated by the likes of a clergyman suspected of murder, a nudist garage mechanic, and a bizarre champion cyclist. Paris-Timbuktu was screened at the 1999 Montreal Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michel Piccoli, Concha Velasco, (more)
Maria Ripoll made her feature directorial debut with this witty Spanish-British romantic comedy, set in London, where actor Victor (Scottish actor Douglas Henshall) is drunk and upset over former girlfriend Sylvia (Leana Headley) and her upcoming marriage in 48 hours to Dave (Mark Strong). In the rain, the wet and drunk Victor meets two Spanish sanitary workers, Don Miguel (Eusebio Lazaro) and Rafael (Gustavo Salmeron), and their Spanish poetry quotes cue special effects and time travel. Tossed back in time, Victor is now able to begin a relationship replay with Sylvia, so he immediately begins an effort to keep her from meeting Dave. The situation gets sticky, however, when he drops into a local pub and meets gorgeous barmaid Louise (Spanish actress Penelope Cruz). London locations show activities during the Notting Hill carnival. Shown at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Douglas Henshall, Lena Headey, (more)
- 1997
A relatively simple coming-of-age drama with autobiographical overtones from Carlos Saura, one of Spain's leading directors, the story is told from the viewpoint of 10-year-old Manu as he is shuffled from relative to relative in the hometown of his parents, who are busy trying to decide whether or not to divorce. That each of Manu's relatives is eccentric only adds spice to the low-key tale. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alejandro Martinez, Dafne Fernandez, (more)
- 1996
In this grim crime melodrama, fascist Spanish taxi drivers unite to become a xenophobic vigilante force dedicated to eradicating all undesirables from the streets of Madrid. Velasco is the leader of the murderous cabbie clan that is comprised of Dani and his father Reme, the skinhead Nino and the nearly insane ex-policeman Calero. Velasco's daughter Paz secretly desires Dani, but her dreams are dashed when she learns about the nefarious activities of Dani and her father. The gang's self-appointed mission is to kill all undesirable foreigners (Arab immigrants are a favorite target), gays and lesbians, blacks and drug addicts. Internal turmoil comes from the burgeoning romance between Paz and Dani coupled with Dani's gradual realization that "the family" may be in the wrong. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- PG
Richard Lester returned to his double-barreled successes of the 1970s, The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers, with Return of the Musketeers, a film that was inexplicably shelved for several years, making its belated premiere on cable television. Based on Alexandre Dumas's novel Twenty Years Later, the film takes place (appropriately enough) two decades after the death of Milady de Winter. Though Milady may have died, her nefarious schemes have been taken up by her daughter Justine (Kim Cattrall), who maneuvers with the conspiring Cardinal Mazarin (Philippe Noiret) to gain control of the crown through Queen Anne (Geraldine Chaplin). D'Artagnan (Michael York) calls for his old compatriots Porthos (Frank Finlay), Athos (Oliver Reed), and Aramis (Richard Chamberlain) to once again go "one for all and all for one." But complications set in when Athos and Aramis take sides with the crown and Athos' adopted son Raoul (C. Thomas Howell) falls in love in Justine. The film is dedicated to character actor Roy Kinnear who plays Planchet, who died in an equestrian accident during the production. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael York, Oliver Reed, (more)
- 1987
This plodding romantic drama concerns two people trying to cope with the political changes in post-Franco Spain. Begona (Angeli Van Os) is a beautiful law professor who meets the prosperous government official Juan (Didier Flamand) at a left-wing political rally. He pursues her, and Begonia eventually falls for Juan. Heated political discussions always precede their passionate love making. A government agent with a compromising picture of the amorous duo convinces Juan that Begona is a KGB agent, and Juan is blackmailed into negotiating with Basque terrorists with headquarters in Paris and Brussels. Juan discovers he has been fooled when his Basque contact is assassinated. Unsure if she is really a spy, Juan prepares to sacrifice everything for love. Begona is slowly drawn to the prosperous comfortable lifestyle that Juan can afford and fears she is losing her political passion. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Didier Flamand, Muntsa Alcañiz, (more)
- 1986
With a message that is certainly slanted to one side, this engaging and well-wrought drama by Antonio Gimenez-Rico attacks the political and intellectual life as so much demagoguery and pedantry, and contrasts politics with the wisdom of a rustic country peasant. The story is told in flashbacks, as the recently widowed wife of a Socialist politician (Juan Luis Galiardo) meets with a successful congressman for lunch. Her late husband retired in 1977 after visiting a small and remote village and talking to a man who lived there. Mayor Cayo (Francisco Rabal), and his wife and lone dog live in one house in the village. The only other house is occupied by a man that Cayo has not associated with for many years. As the Socialist politician debates with Cayo (trying to get his vote) the peasant-mayor debunks politics in general. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Francisco Rabal, Juan Luis Galiardo, (more)
- 1986
Juan Gallardo (Tony Isbert) becomes the legendary robber known as Pasos Largos (Long Strider), the last of the celebrated Andalusian bandits. Poaching puts him at odds with the head of the hated local Civil Guard and the livid landowner. Though the film attempts to elevate Pasos Largos to hero status, the heartless bandit exhibits no redeeming qualities whatsoever -- he even shoots his faithful dog and any other animal that moves. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Isbert, Marina Saura, (more)
- 1982
- R
Demons in the Garden (Demonios En El Jardin) dwells upon three generations of an agrarian Spanish family. Most or all the family members have come of age since their country's Civil War. Fact becomes legend and legend becomes fact concerning that conflict, while the family is destroyed from within by corruption and long-smoldering rivalries. All of this is told from the point of view of the youngest (and, we are to assume, least emotionally damaged) family member. Demons in the Garden is very much in tune with the other multi-generational works of director Manuel Aragon, most of whose films can be regarded as creative cannonades aimed directly at the now-dead Franco regime. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ángela Molina, Ana Belén, (more)
- 1980
An outrageous comedy that throws viewers into a culture shock. A suggestive satire about women who ignore society's rules. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carmen Maura, Eva Siva, (more)
