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The year is 1973, the final years of Franco's rule in Spain.
Travelling encyclopaedia salesman, Alfredo, is in fear of
losing his job unless he learns to diversify into selling
erotic movies. The catch is that he has to make them himself.
After consulting his wife, Carmen, they create a whole series
of top-selling amateur films for the Scandinavian
World Cinema of Reproduction collection.
Not only does it turn Carmen into an international sex symbol,
but also sets alight Alfredo's burning film-making ambition
to emulate his hero, Ingmar Bergman...
Torremolinos
73 is
a strange little movie from Spain based on, supposedly, true
events that happened under Franco's rule. The film revolves
around encyclopaedia salesman, Alfredo, and his wife Carmen.
This normal, rather dull couple, are soon transformed when
they unexpectedly start making home movies of themselves in
the act of lovemaking.
The
reason Alfredo and Carmen are forced into making pornographic
films is that the company Alfredo is working for is having
problems selling encyclopaedias. The boss invites the three
salesmen whose jobs are under threat, and their wives, for
an expenses paid weekend workshop. Here the future of the
company is unveiled and they discover that in order to keep
their jobs they must film themselves in the act of lovemaking
for publication in the Swedish market. This publication is
designed to showcase sexual habits from around the world.
Director Pablo Berger has done a fantastic job of making us
feel like we are watching an old '70s movie. The sets are
incredible and there
are plenty of nice little touches that make this movie instantly
memorable.
When
Alfredo first gets his hands on a camera he is trained to
put it together as though he were an army recruit learning
how to strip and reassemble his gun. From that point on he
is a camera addict and starts to believe that he is like his
hero Ingmar Bergman.
I also loved the subtle gag where Alfredo and Carmen are discussing
whether or not to make the movies. Alfredo, thinking Carmen
won't agree to being part of such a disgusting project, is
adamant that they won't have anything to do with it. When
Carmen asks how many encyclopaedias he would have to sell
to earn the money they will make from just one movie Alfredo
knows exactly - he says "About..." and then gives
an amount that is exactly. It's obvious he's been weighing
up the benefits. While Alfredo wants to keep his job, Carmen
wants to make the movies in order that they might afford to
have a baby.
The
movie progresses, with them making more and more films, until
Alfredo decides to have a go at making a proper movie - Torremolinos
73. His company will fund his project, but they will also
choose the actors and crew.
Extras
include a 28 min 'Making of' documentary (which tries to add
further confusion as to whether the movie is based on a real
story or not); trailer; three TV spots; and a collection of
trailers for other Tartan DVD releases. There's also a choice
of DTS soundtrack; 5.1 or stereo. There's not much point in
the DTS track to be honest, but it's great to see that Tartan
care enough about their releases that they give us the option.
This
is a great movie, full of humour and sadness. Which proves,
if proof were needed, that Spanish cinema should be be given
a wider audience.
Nick
Smithson
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