Set shortly before World War II, a troupe of Spanish filmmakers go to Nazi Germany to co-produce a film with the Germans. Good propaganda and all that. While there, they are exposed to the Nazi way of doing things, particularly in their treatment of the Jews. The leading Spanish lady catches the eye of propaganda minister Goebbels, who soon makes a determined play for her. She, meanwhile, fancies a young Russian Jew working as an extra on the film. Both of these romances are complicated by her ongoing affair with the married director. When the Russian tries to escape, she is drawn in, making for a tragi-comic finale. We regret the lack of foreign ratings. An award-winning Spanish film with English subtitles.
122 minutes, No persons under 13
Comedy, Drama, Romance
Penélope Cruz, Antonio Resines, Neus Asensi, Jesús Bonilla
Director
Fernando Trueba
Screenplay
Rafael Azcona, Miguel Ángel Egea, Carlos López, David Trueba
Music
Antoine Duhamel
Cinematography
Javier Aguirresarobe
Sound formats
Dolby
Soundtrack
Not available
Made in
1998
Produced by
Cartel, Fernando Trueba, Producciones Cinematográficas, Lola Films
Ratings
Scale (Max)
20
South African Media
The MoviesiteIan Douglas
14
Cape ArgusGary van Dyk
10
Cape TimesChristopher Rodriques
10
The StarJoanna Rix
12
Die BurgerFrancois Smith
10
International Media
Internet (IMDB)116 Netizens
15
Average .. 59%
12
Visitor Comments
Ian Douglas: A delightful adult comedy which is funny because it is not trying to be funny, like so much out of Hollywood. Penelope is radiant and lights up the screen whenever she appear, much like Julia in Erin Brockovich. The plotline borrows from many others, including the classic airport scene in Casablanca, which does lose it a few points. Very worthwhile from a historic point of view, as a look into life in Nazi Germany.
