Torremolinos 73
(Rating: 5 by Al)
(2003—Pablo Berger—Spain/Denmark) Opening shot: Spain in the 1970s. A man in a business suit, carrying a suitcase, walks over the hill. Minutes later we are shown that he is an over-the-hill encyclopedia salesman. Seven doors in a row slam on his sing-song sales pitch. But encyclopedia sales are tough all over. His Spanish employer knows this, and gives his four remaining salesmen (and their spouses!) the chance to make big money by making films for the Denmark Worldwide Audiovisual Encyclopedia of Reproduction. (Can you say “porno?”) Two couples decline the offer but our hero and his wife accept. The wife Carmen (Played by Candela Peria) is the driving force behind their decision. She embraces it because she wants more than anything on earth to have a baby. She knows that un-condomed and frequent sex with her husband, while making these films, will deliver that possibility. The husband Alfredo (played by Javier Camara) quickly embraces the idea and the filmmaking art. He directs and films a series of very good movies of their amorous couplings. He soon grows tired of making sex films, however, and begins studying Bergman. Armed with a passion to be immortal, Alfredo writes his opus screenplay and heads to Torremolinos to film it. Death shows up playing chess, and carrying a scythe on the roller coaster. The set turns sour on Alfredo, however, when the film’s money man requires a tiny rewrite. A very, very funny and rewarding film in many, many subtle ways: well-paced, well-acted and well-directed. Don’t see it, however, if you are offended by full frontal nudity, or scenes of heterosexual intercourse by consulting adults. Do know, moreover, that *none* of the sex nor the nudity is gratuitous. (1 hour 27. In Spanish and Danish, with English subtitles.)