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DVD Madrid, 1987
 Run time: 105 min Rating: 6.4 Genres: Drama Director: David Trueba Writers: David Trueba Stars: José Sacristán, María Valverde, Ramon Fontserè |
| Storyline Madrid, 1987 …is a two-character story with a verbose discourse on writing, journalism, careerism, aging and politics. Shot mostly within a very constricted space, the story follows an older, celebrated journalist Miguel (José Sacristán) who meets the beautiful and coy journalism-student Angela (María Valverde) to give an interview – but becomes intent upon seducing her. They end up spending time in the most unusual manner …discussing literature, prose and career trajectories …gradually divulging little insights into their own selves as we start to understand the old journalist’s cynicism and the young protégé’s intentions. Written by Adnan R. Amin |
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| Plot Keywords: trimming pubic hair, female pubic hair, pubic hair, discussion, locked in a bathroom | |
| Details: Country: Spain Release Date: 13 April 2012 (Spain) |
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DVD Madrid, 1987
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2 comments
David Trueba, like most of his Spanish fellow directors, is a man with lots of ideas, which unfortunately rely on gimmicks to present this basically two character film that feels claustrophobic, not only in its setting, which takes place in a locked bathroom where a couple cannot escape from. The film is hermetic in form, relying on the fact that the couple is trapped inside a room with no possible solution for getting out of their predicament.
Miguel, a respected journalist, is admired by a young Angela, who wants to write and figures she can create an interest in the older man, whose only interest, plain and simple, is to have sex with the luscious woman. As the two get trapped, one thing comes out clear, Angela, with her young, supple body, stands in stark contrast against the aging Miguel, whose aging body is a turn off for Angela.
Mr. Trueba gives the best lines to Miguel, while poor Angela has nothing to show but her charms. The director makes sure his male star, Jose Sacristan is only photographed from the chest up, hiding his manhood from indiscreet exposure, but Maria Valverde has the difficult task of being a vulnerable and naked Angela.
When all is said and done, there is nothing but blah, blah, blah.
I bet a lot pretentious old perverts just like the shriveled old geyser in this movie in spend hours fantasizing about such an encounter. It's a movie that, like its own characters, thinks it's a world apart, even though topic of a may/December relationship has been done to death. Maybe someone should do a story about an older woman and a younger man for a change.
Granted, the dialog is well crafted, but loses its effectiveness when it comes out of the mouth of a character that despite being articulate and well-read, reminds me of a horny Abe Simpson: Extremely old and bored and always willing to give his opinion and life story to anyone who'll listen. But he's also narcissistic and every response he makes to anyone he talks to is interpreted as an opportunity to display his enormous vocabulary and encyclopedic wisdom.
The characters do have some interesting things to say, but they also talk through a variety of topics like they're crossing off a European-art-film-essentials checklist, obviously namedropping writers, artists and poets every step of the way, making me think that the movie was made mostly to stroke the Director's ego and those of his circle of artist friends.